3/12 Mole, gray whale migration, CN train spill, WA plastic bag ban, 'throwaway culture'

Townsend's mole [American Society of Mammalogists]

Townsend's mole Scapanus townsendii
Townsend's mole is the largest mole in North America. It is common in moist soil, especially river bottoms, wooded areas, even city lawns throughout the city and county, but rarely seen because they are underground burrow dwellers. Their diet consists of earthworms and some insects, They dig burrows with long claws on large front feet and the mounds of excess soil from tunnels are visible evidence of moles. (Slater Museum)

As spring gray whale migration begins, scientists watchful for another die-off
Last year, during the spring northbound migration of gray whales along the Pacific Northwest coast, more than 200 whales -- most looking skinny or malnourished -- washed up dead on beaches between Mexico and Alaska. As this year's long journey gets underway, marine scientists and whale lovers will be watching whether the unusual die-off continues into a second year. Tom Banse reports. (NW News Network)

CN derailment spilled 40 tonnes of petroleum coke by creek in Fraser River watershed, B.C. government says
The CN derailment east of Prince George, B.C., last week spilled 40 tonnes of petroleum coke in and along a creek in the Fraser River watershed, according to the provincial environment ministry. A ministry official said solid and powder forms of the substance spilled from two open rail cars that tipped along a 20-metre stretch of Hay Creek in the community of Giscome, about 44 kilometres northeast of Prince George. Petroleum coke is a byproduct of the oil sands refining process that burns hotter than coal. Betsy Trumpener reports. (CBC)

Paper or paper? Washington lawmakers ban plastic grocery bags, add 8-cent fee to paper ones
Grocery shoppers can expect to fork over a few more pennies at the checkout counter if the governor signs a bipartisan bill that bans plastic grocery bags and adds an 8-cent fee on paper bags. The statewide plastic bag ban passed through the state Legislature on Monday with a 33-15 vote in the Senate. Several conservative lawmakers supported the Democrat-sponsored legislation, hoping it will create demand for paper bags and “breathe new life” into Washington’s pulp and paper industry. Senate Bill 5323 targets plastic bags at grocery outlets, and exempts such items as garbage bags. If signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington would be aligned with the 13 other states that have banned plastic grocery bags, including Oregon and California. Claudia Yaw reports. (Seattle Times)

Climate change: New rules could spell end of 'throwaway culture'
New rules could spell the death of a "throwaway" culture in which products are bought, used briefly, then binned. The regulations will apply to a range of everyday items such as mobile phones, textiles, electronics, batteries, construction and packaging. They will ensure products are designed and manufactured so they last - and so they're repairable if they go wrong...It's part of a worldwide movement called the Right to Repair, which has spawned citizens' repair workshops in several UK cities.  Rpger Harrabin reports. (BBC)


Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  310 AM PDT Thu Mar 12 2020   
TODAY  NW wind to 10 kt becoming W 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 ft or less building to 1 to 3 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 7 ft at 11 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 20 kt easing to 10 kt after midnight.  Wind waves 1 to 3 ft subsiding to 1 ft or less after midnight. W  swell 6 ft at 11 seconds. A chance of rain after midnight.



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