2/27 Tardigrade, BC LNG meet, Columbia dams, shoreline armor, BP climate, Canadian rail crude, Puddles, giant hornet, bear banger, McKinley mill

Tardigrade [Live Science]

Tardigrade
Tardigrades, known colloquially as water bears or moss piglets, are a phylum of water-dwelling eight-legged segmented microanimals. They were first described by the German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1773, who called them little water bears. Rep. Alex Ramel (40th-Bellimgham) introduced legislation (HB 2747) to name the tardigrade the state microanimal. The bill has passed the House and has moved to the Senate.

Meeting of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, federal, provincial governments set after 'miscommunication' 
A proposed meeting between the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, the federal government and the British Columbia government is set to take place on Thursday, following word that talks for a meeting had fallen through Wednesday afternoon. In an interview with CBC News, Chief Na'Moks​​, also known as John Ridsdale, said the Office of the Wet'suwet'en received a call Wednesday night from someone representing the federal and B.C. governments saying news that the proposed meeting was cancelled was a miscommunication. Cory Correia reports. (CBC)

For first time in 20 years, feds take deep look at hydrodam removal on Lower Snake River
The futures of hydropower, salmon and orcas in the Pacific Northwest are at stake in the first assessment in 20 years of the environmental effects of dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Federal agencies are set to release a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) of dam operations on Friday, opening a 45-day public comment period. On the table will be a range of alternatives for operation of 14 dams in the federal Columbia River hydropower system, including a preferred alternative. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

Shoreline armoring in Puget Sound gets new scrutiny from the Army Corps of Engineers
Shoreline bulkheads, which can damage beaches and destroy fish habitat, could come under more extensive review and permitting as the result of a revised shoreline policy announced last week by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The revised policy, which resulted from a federal lawsuit, now requires a Corps of Engineers permit for shoreline construction below the high-tide line. The previous line of jurisdiction was lower on the beach, effectively exempting most shoreline armoring from federal permits. One of the key results of the policy change is to bring shoreline armoring under the purview of the Endangered Species Act, said Amy Carey of Sound Action, one of three environmental groups bringing the lawsuit against the Corps. Chris Dunagan reports. (Puget Sound Institute)

BP is pulling out of three trade groups over climate policies
BP is withdrawing from three trade groups over climate policies, a move that comes after the company vowed to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The oil giant is pulling out of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers, the Western Energy Alliance and the Western States Petroleum Association, the company said Wednesday. But BP will remain in the American Petroleum Institute, which has lobbied for the rollback of a wide array of environmental regulations aimed at addressing climate change. Steven Mufson reports. (Washington Post)

U.S. Rails Monitoring Canadian Crude
The derailment of two separate oil trains roughly two months apart near Guernsey, Sask., each spilling more than 300,000 gallons of crude onto the ground and one igniting into a smoldering inferno, plus the resulting 30-day mandatory speed limit on such trains imposed by Transport Canada (20 mph in urban areas, 25 mph elsewhere), have raised questions about not only the cause of those derailments, but also about the durability of the tank cars, and the volatility of the crude they were carrying. It should also raise questions, and awareness, about the transport of Canadian crude on the U.S. rail system. Bruce E. Kelly writes. (Railway Age)

Puddles the mussel-sniffing dog helps raise awareness about risks of invasive species
At a public boat launch on Black Lake, south of Olympia, Sgt. Pam Taylor holds dozens of small, dark black shells in the palm of her hand. At her side is an inquisitive white hound, barking enthusiastically...Puddles is arguably the cutest foot soldier in that public relations push. She’s the newest tool in a decades-long fight against a particularly egregious offender: freshwater mussels that often hitch a ride on boats entering the state from other parts of the U.S. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

The hunt is on in Whatcom for invasive, bee-killing giant hornets with painful stings
The state will set “sap traps” and ask people to make homemade bottle traps in an effort to find and destroy invasive Asian giant hornets and keep them from making a home in the Pacific Northwest. Trapping will occur in spring and summer as Washington State Department of Agriculture and other officials battle the new and unwanted pest, which was discovered in Blaine in December — making it the first time the invasive Asian giant hornet was discovered in Washington state. Kie Relyea reports. (Bellingham Herald)

B.C. fisherman charged after throwing explosive into crowd of sea lions
A commercial fisherman from B.C. has been charged with throwing an explosive device toward a group of sea lions in the Strait of Georgia last year. Allen Marsden is facing three counts under the Fisheries Act and Explosives Act for tossing a small, explosive device known as a "bear banger" from his boat toward the crowd of animals on March 4, 2019. (CBC)

McKinley mill in Port Angeles making paper now
McKinley Paper Company is producing paper at a mill that had been dormant for three years, a representative for the state agency referring job applicants to the plant said Wednesday. “They are running paper,” Patrice Varela-Daylow of WorkSource Clallam County. WorkSource also has an office in Jefferson County. “If you look and see the steam, that’s kind of a good indicator,” Varela-Daylow said. Paul Gottlieb reports. (Peninsula Daily News)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  224 AM PST Thu Feb 27 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING   
TODAY  S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming NE in the afternoon. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 10 ft at 14 seconds. A chance of rain  in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt in the evening becoming light. Wind  waves 2 ft or less. W swell 9 ft at 13 seconds. A slight chance  of rain in the evening.



--
"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