11/18 Painted greenling, shellfish permit, BC old growth, electric ferries, barge freed, Fidalgo spill, Keystone XL protest, Jordan Cove LNG, Skagit swans

Painted greenling [Janna Nichols/WDFW]

Painted greenling Oxylebius pictus
Painted greenling range from Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska to north-central Baja, California, but are rare north of Washington. They are found in rocky areas from the intertidal to 160 feet (49 meters). Painted greenling can grow up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length and live to be 8 years old. Rarely caught by recreational harvesters within Puget Sound and uncommon in coastal waters. (WDFW)

Taylor Shellfish, Swinomish in midst of legal battle over shellfish permit
A legal battle is being waged over a national permit’s use for shellfish farming operations in Washington and whether it adequately considers the environmental impacts of those farms...A federal judge ruled in October that the Army Corps permit does not meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act. Still up for discussion is whether to vacate that permit — which would shut down shellfish farms — or leave it in place while requiring the Army Corps to remedy its shortfalls. Hanging in the balance is an industry that according to an Associated Press report generates about $150 million in revenue per year, as well as questions of environmental health in the region’s marine waters...The Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat, the Center for Food Safety and the Swinomish each filed lawsuits against the Army Corps over the five-year permit, which was originally issued in 2007 and re-issued in 2012 and 2017. Taylor Shellfish Farms, which has operations in Samish Bay and other areas throughout Puget Sound, has sided with the Army Corps against vacating the permit, which would impact workers and come at an economic cost to the region.

Conservationists criticize latest old-growth forest panel. Say action needed — not more talk 
The province will spend months collecting more public feedback on how old-growth trees should be protected or cut down in yet another round of engagement over new rules for forestry and conservation in B.C. The Old Growth Strategic Review follows a similar consultation process, intended to result in the overhaul of B.C.'s forestry rules to better protect ecosystems, maintain jobs and reconcile with First Nations. The overhaul was a central plank of the NDP's election platform in 2017. However, conservationists say the review is a stalling tactic and argue new legislation is needed now to slow the cutting of B.C.'s huge trees, some as old as 800 years. Chad Pawson reports. (CBC)

Dumping diesel: With a shift to electric ferries, a robot might soon be charging your ride
The distinctive drone of vessels in the Washington State Ferries fleet will soon begin to fade a bit. “When we’re in battery mode, it’s going to be almost silent,” said Matt von Ruden, who heads up the agency’s vessel division, standing in one of the pilothouses onboard the diesel-guzzling ferry Puyallup. The vessel, one of three Jumbo Mark II-class ferries, is in line for a conversion that will allow the boat to run completely on electric power. Sister ferries Tacoma and Wenatchee will get the same conversion treatment and a new, unnamed Olympic-class vessel will be built similarly over the next few years. New equipment will soon allow the vessels to charge automatically when they dock. Nathan Piling reports. (Kitsap Sun) See also: Metro Vancouver proposes an electric river bus for Fraser River  The Metro Vancouver Regional District wants TransLink to consider introducing an electric river bus to transport passengers from Fraser River communities. Tiffany Crawford reports. (Vancouver Sun)

Barge grounded off Quadra Island successfully refloated, says coast guard
The Canadian Coast Guard says a barge that ran aground off Vancouver Island last week has been successfully refloated. The coast guard said in a statement the barge left the area safely Friday and is now secured at Campbell River, B.C. The Nana Provider, owned by Alaska Marine Lines, was carrying rail cars and containers on its deck when it ran aground Nov. 9 at Quadra Island, located about three kilometres east of Campbell River. No injuries were reported among the six people on board and there were no signs of marine pollution.(Canadian Press) (CBC)

Oil Spill Prevention Law Helps Contain Leak at Shell Puget Sound Refinery 
The Washington Department of Ecology responded to an oil spill that took place Friday night when a Crowley Maritime Barge was transferring five million gallons of oil to the Shell Puget Sound Refinery, CNN reported. Around 20 gallons spilled, of which five entered the water, and that oil was contained within an area that was boomed before the transfer began. The cleanup was completed by 8:30 a.m. Sunday, the department said. "There were no impacts to the shoreline or wildlife," department spokeswoman Cheryl Ann Bishop told CNN in an email. Olivia Rosane reports. (EcoWatch)

How the American environmental movement dealt a blow to Alberta's oilpatch
The strategy to stifle Alberta's oilsands came together in a hotel near a mall in Minneapolis over a decade ago. It was the fall of 2008, and a group of environmental activists spent part of a conference there brainstorming tactics for slowing down the growth of the oilsands — and they identified pipelines as the most vulnerable target. One in particular fit the bill: Keystone XL — a 1,897-kilometre pipeline to be built by TC Energy that would carry up to 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Hardisty, Alta., to Nebraska, where it would link up with the company's existing pipeline network. Alexander Panetta reports. (CBC)

Energy Regulators Maintain Jordan Cove Environmental Impacts Are Mostly 'Less Than Significant'
Federal energy regulators released the final environmental impact findings Friday for the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas terminal and pipeline. This is the last major permitting document that will be published before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission makes a final decision on the southern Oregon project. Canadian energy developer Pembina is proposing to build a 230-mile natural gas pipeline across four Oregon counties. The gas would be liquefied at a terminal facility near Coos Bay before being exported to Asia. Yes Burns reports. (OPB)

Swans return to the Skagit Valley
Trumpeter and tundra swans are once again descending for the winter on fields in the Skagit Valley and surrounding areas. With the birds’ annual return, the state Department of Fish & Wildlife has reopened a hotline to report observations of any appearing dead, sick or injured. The hotline is available 24-7 now through March. The hotline is at 360-466-4345, ext. 266. The agency has for several years operated the hotline during the winter in an effort to understand and reduce lead poisoning that occurs when the swans consume lead pellets left behind through hunting, as well as to collect birds injured in collisions with power lines. Kimberly Cauvel reports. (Skagit Valley Herald)


Now, your tug weather--West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  253 AM PST Mon Nov 18 2019   
TODAY  SE wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 11 seconds. Rain in the  afternoon. 
TONIGHT  E wind to 10 kt becoming NW after midnight. Wind waves  1 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 11 seconds. Rain in the evening  then a chance of rain after midnight.



--
"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. To subscribe, send your name and email to msato (@) salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate

Follow on Twitter. 

Salish Sea Communications: Truth Well Told