6/19 Japanese beetle, BC pipe OK'd, BC enforcement, air permits, cannabis sewage, oyster threat,Teck pollution

Japanese beetle

Japanese beetle Popillia japonica
The Japanese beetle is a species of scarab beetle... It is not very destructive in Japan, where it is controlled by natural predators, but in North America, it is a noted pest of about 300 species of plants including rose bushes, grapes, hops, canna, crape myrtles, birch trees, linden trees, and others. The adult beetles damage plants by skeletonizing the foliage, that is, consuming only the leaf material between the veins, and may also feed on fruit on the plants if present, while the subterranean larvae feed on the roots of grasses. (Wikipedia) See also: Vancouver limits plant disposal in attempt to stop spread of Japanese beetle  (CBC)

Trudeau cabinet approves Trans Mountain expansion project
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet have again approved the Trans Mountain expansion project, a crucial next step for the much-delayed pipeline project designed to carry nearly a million barrels of oil from Alberta's oilpatch to the B.C. coast each day. The cabinet has affirmed the National Energy Board's conclusion that, while the pipeline has the potential to damage the environment and marine life, it's in the national interest and could contribute tens of billions of dollars to government coffers and create and sustain thousands of jobs. Beyond approving the project, Trudeau also committed to directing every single dollar the federal government earns from the pipeline — which, when it's built, is estimated to be some $500 million a year in federal corporate tax revenue alone — to investments in unspecified clean energy projects.... A senior government official, speaking on background to reporters ahead of the official announcement, said while there are still a number of permits and regulatory hurdles facing the controversial project, the government expects construction work to start sometime this year. John Paul Tasker reports. (CBC) See also: Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion approved; ‘shovels in ground’ soon, Canada’s PM says  Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times) See also: House of Commons declares a climate emergency ahead of pipeline decision   The House of Commons has passed a non-binding motion to declare a national climate emergency in Canada, kicking off a week that will test the Liberals' promise to balance environmental protection with economic development. (CBC)

'Woefully under-staffed': judge laments fisheries resources in scathing decision
A B.C. judge lamented the state of protections for Canadian fisheries this month as she tore a strip off a commercial skipper with a history of repeat fishing violations. Powell River Provincial Court Judge Kimberley Arthur-Leung slapped Tuan Huu Le with a $20,000 fine, a four-month fishing prohibition and an order to forfeit his traps after he pleaded guilty to a series of crab fishing offences. But in coming up with a sentence, she said repeat offenders like Le must know that the penalty for threatening the vitality of a key Canadian resource "must be more than a simplistic cost of doing business." "The reality of the matter is that Fisheries and Oceans is woefully under-staffed. This incredible country is bound by significant bodies of water. The Pacific Coast is vast and staffing is significantly under-resourced," wrote Arthur-Leung. Jason Proctor reports. (CBC)

Permitting process could get more difficult with update to air pollution limits
Proposed updates to the state’s toxic air pollution rules will make regulations slightly stricter overall to protect young and unborn children from exposure, according to the state Department of Ecology. The changes could make it more difficult for new businesses to get industrial permits, officials said. The rule sets limits for industry air emissions of about 400 different toxic chemicals.  Mallory Gruben reports. (Longview Daily News)

Wastewater study finds Puget Sound has 'highest cannabis use per capita' worldwide
Why is there a freezer full of sewage in Tacoma? A new study is using Puget Sound wastewater to understand trends in cannabis use since legalized sales began in August 2014.  The findings suggest that the black market for marijuana was rapidly displaced by legal recreational sales. This is one of the first studies to use hard data, rather than surveys, to understand how cannabis consumption has been affected by legalization in Washington state. Laura Fattaruso reports. (KING)

Washington's Oyster Industry Threatened By A Booming Shrimp Population
The booming population of a native species of Northwest shrimp threatens the oyster beds of Washington's Willapa Bay and a coastal way of life. Molly Solomon reports. (OPB)

Canadian mining company liable for pollution flowing from Kootenays to U.S.
Vancouver-based mining giant Teck has run out of appeals after polluting the Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt in Washington State for decades from its huge lead-zinc smelter in Trail, B.C. The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear Teck's appeal of the case brought by the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT) in Washington State. The CCT successfully argued Teck used the Columbia River in southeastern B.C. as a "convenient disposal facility for its wastes."  Bob Keating reports. (CBC)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  302 AM PDT Wed Jun 19 2019   
TODAY  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 7 ft  at 8 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 6 ft  at 8 seconds. A chance of showers.



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