7/31 Vireo, Pebble Mine, Growler suit, plastics or people, tugboat spill, Shaw release

Hutton's vireo [Bob Steele/Audubon]

Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni
In woods of the Pacific Coast and the Southwest, this little vireo hops about actively in the oaks. The bird bears a surprising resemblance to the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (which is often more common in the same woods in winter); it even twitches its wings in kinglet style when it is excited. Hutton's has the most monotonous song of all the vireos, a single note repeated over and over. (Audubon)

Trump EPA yanks Obama-era proposal to restrict mine development in salmon-rich Bristol Bay region
The Environmental Protection Agency scuttled proposed development restrictions Tuesday on an open-pit mine in the headwaters of Alaska’s Bristol Bay region, which sustains the largest sockeye salmon runs in the world. The move by Chris Hladick, the EPA’s Seattle-based regional administrator, is part of a broader Trump administration push to proceed with a permitting review for the Pebble Mine, a world-class deposit of gold, molybdenum and copper that — due to its sensitive location — is among the most contested mineral-development projects in Alaska history. The proposed restrictions date to the Obama administration, and would have sharply limited the amount of wetlands and salmon streams that could have been damaged by disposal of mine wastes. The developer’s CEO — Tom Collier of Pebble Partnership — hailed the EPA action Tuesday as removing a “cloud of uncertainty” by reversing “outrageous federal government overreach.” Hal Bernton reports. (Seattle Times)

Elected officials weigh in on lawsuit against Navy
Elected officials are weighing in on a lawsuit filed by the state attorney general against the Navy over its plans for expansion at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. In a letter to state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Oak Harbor Mayor Bob Severns condemned the lawsuit, calling it an irresponsible waste of resources and unjustifiable to the majority of his constituents. Severns, who has served four years as mayor, said he believes the public understands the importance of the Navy’s mission, and values it above the additional noise that will be caused by expansion... Helen Price Johnson, an Island County commissioner, said she’s frustrated by the rhetoric around this lawsuit, and what it’s actually alleging... Even if the state’s lawsuit is successful, it shouldn’t threaten the Navy’s plans for growth here, she said. It would merely require the Navy to perform a more detailed review of the potential environmental and health effects. “All (it is) doing is making the Navy follow the rules like any other agency,” she said... Her colleague, Commissioner Jill Johnson, opposes the suit. Brandon Stone reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)

Plastics Or People? At Least 1 Of Them Has To Change To Clean Up Our Mess
The avalanche of plastic waste that’s rolling over land and sea has inspired numerous potential solutions. Some involve inventing our way out of the mess by creating new kinds of natural materials that will harmlessly degrade if they’re thrown away. Others say it might be quicker to change people’s throwaway behavior instead. Christopher Joyce reports. (NPR)

Crews clean up oil spill after tugboat sinks at Railway Marina
Washington Ecology, the Coast Guard, and the Navy responded to a sunken 60-foot tugboat with 300 gallons of diesel at the Port Orchard Railway Marina on Monday afternoon. According to Ecology, a small oil skimmer was used and cleanup material was applied, gathering a large amount of spilled diesel fuel. The Navy placed hard boom around the sunken ship. Overnight Monday, the Coast Guard’s contractors plugged the boat’s fuel vents, which allow fuel to flow out when submerged. Jessie Darland reports. (Kitsap Sun)

Shaw Centre releases 70 salmon and a giant octopus back into the sea
A large shoal of 70 healthy salmon and a much loved octopus have been released back into B.C. waters, following a stay at Sidney’s aquarium. Assisted by volunteers, staff from the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea took the salmon down to Sidney Pier in special tanks, before releasing them into the ocean. The process was overseen by Chief Aquarist Kit Thornton, and was not without challenges as the fish were 2.5 years old and “substantially sized.” Nick Murray reports. (Victoria News)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  254 AM PDT Wed Jul 31 2019   
TODAY  Light wind becoming NW 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 8 seconds. A slight chance of  showers. 
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 15 kt becoming W to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 3 ft at 7 seconds.



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