Earth Share of Washington

Up the Duwamish River - View from the Helm

- By Sue Joerger of Earth Share organization Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance's Executive Director Sue Joerger shares with us the experience of being along for the ride on a pollution patrol up the Duwamish River. Puget Soundkeeper is the only organization actively patrolling and monitoring Elliott Bay and the Duwamish River. Find out more on their website – www.pugetsoundkeeper.org.

The engine starts with a roar! As skipper Paul Frederickson drops the throttle to idle speed, volunteer Bruce Dean and I cast off the lines, then climb aboard the Soundkeeper boat for our weekly patrol.

A dozen blue herons sit on the breakwater as we motor out of Elliott Bay Marina, their long necks buried in feathers puffed up against the cold December breeze. A Kingfisher chatters at us as it flies across our bow. I point out the newly arrived Goldeneyes, diving ducks that spend the winter in Puget Sound, to Jennifer Joseph, the fourth member of our crew and Soundkeeper Assistant.

Elliott Bay is choppy as we speed across. I feel a slight wave of nausea as my stomach adjusts to the movement. Paul points the bow of the Soundkeeper boat towards Todd Shipyard, our visual bearing to the entrance of the Duwamish River. Although it has been called the Duwamish Waterway since it was straightened and dredged back in 1913, I still prefer to think of it as a river.

In Todd's east dry dock we can see the red hull of the 420 foot US Coast Guard Cutter HEALY, a polar icebreaker designed to break 4 1/2 feet of ice continuously at three knots. It is in for its winter repairs after finishing its summer deployment in the Arctic. A huge curtain is pulled across the front of the dry dock to prevent red paint chips that contain metals toxic to salmon and sand blast grit from blowing into the water. "Good job," I report to the crew.

As we start up the river we watch a California sea lion fishing for salmon off one of the Lockheed Superfund cleanup sites. We then check out the mouth of Longfellow Creek. The tide is high, so all we can see is the top of the vertical metal bars attached to the concrete opening, surrounded by riprap. It is a depressing sight. Up to 90% of the coho salmon migrating up the river through these metal bars die before spawning because of toxic stormwater runoff. A couple of years ago I saw coho in the river, swimming in circles, a behavioral disorder scientists link to stormwater pollution and results in death. Although I work on stormwater regulation everyday, progress seems painfully slow.

As we motor under the West Seattle Bridge we wave to a gillnet fisherman in bright orange foul weather gear, pulling up his net across the bow of an aluminum runabout. I worry about the fish in this river and the people and wildlife that eat them.

The Washington State Department of Health finally released its Puget Sound Fish Consumption Advisory in October 2006. The Health Department recommends that you limit your consumption of Puget Sound Chinook salmon, resident Chinook salmon (Blackmouth), Rockfish and flatfish be limited because of "relatively" high levels of mercury and PCBs.

After we pass the old rusted train bridge, I point out the osprey nest nestled in a tall street light above a scrap metal yard, then spot the white tails of two bald eagles sitting in a tree on Kellog Island. Humans aren’t the only ones fishing the Duwamish River. If human consumption in Puget Sound is limited what impact are PCBs and mercury having on those that eat from the Sound every day?

At the Duwamish Shipyard the air is hazy with sandblast grit and paint chips and there is a milky sheen on the water. A green barge is in the graving dock. There is no tarping and the curtains are tied closed. We take photos, call the Department of Ecology pollution hotline and motor on. I can feel the grit, like sand, crunching between my teeth. (Later in the week, Ecology issued a "verbal warning" to the Shipyard).

At Seattle Iron and Metals, Paul turns the boat around to head back to the marina and I take the helm while we watch flattened cars and trucks get shredded to be recycled. I'm cold and my feet are numb. My thoughts wander as I throttle down, to let a tug and barge cross the river in front of us.

As we pull into the fuel dock back at the marina the smell of fresh grilled salmon from Maggie Bluff's scents the air. I'm hungry and looking forward to some barbecued salmon on my boat tonight, if the weather holds. The salmon is from Alaska, in case you are curious.

Priorities for a Healthy Washington update - Washington passes landmark legislation to ban toxic flame retardants

- By Ken Steffenson of Earth Share organization Washington Toxics Coalition

As the dust settles on the 2007 Washington legislative session, Washington Toxics Coalition achieved an important victory -- a statewide ban on toxic flame retardants known as PBDEs –- addressing a key 2007 environmental priority that was identified by the coalition Priorities for a Healthy Washington. They collaborated with a crack team of policy experts, doctors, nurses, public-interest lobbyists, firefighters, children's advocates, moms, and scientists to support the ban. By pursuing a reasonable approach of phasing them out in favor of safer alternatives, they won the support of legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) and Sen. Debbie Regala (D-Tacoma) shepherded the bill from its inception in 2005. Rep. Hunter worked day and night to ensure the passage of this bill because of his concern for children’s health.

"Washington state is leading the way for improving the health and safety of our children," said Hunter. "We've come up with a common-sense strategy for preserving fire safety while getting rid of chemicals like PBDEs that build up in our environment, in our bodies, and even in mothers' breast milk.”

As a mother and grandmother, Sen. Regala fought passionately for the bill's passage. "Companies have proven that we don't need toxic chemicals like PBDEs to make effective products. It’s up to us at the state level to move the rest of the industry toward safer practices," she said.

The Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health requested the legislation, which was supported by Gov. Gregoire, three state fire associations, the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington Medical Association, and many others.

While other states have passed bans on the penta and octa forms of PBDEs, which have been phased out of manufacture, Washington is the first to act on the deca form. Deca has by far the highest production volume of the PBDE forms.

"Fire fighters are concerned about preventing fires and reducing exposure to toxic chemicals, because we’re on the front lines in both cases," said Keven Rojecki of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters. "Fire fighters are already exposed to so many deadly carcinogens, it is critical that safer alternatives be used to ensure products are fire safe. This bill is a victory for protecting the health of firefighters and the public from harmful toxic chemicals."

The legislation does the following:

• Bans the use of the penta and octa forms of PBDEs, with limited exceptions, by 2008;
• Bans the use of the deca form in mattresses by 2008; and
• Bans the use of the deca form in televisions, computers, and residential upholstered furniture by 2011, as long as a safer, reasonable, and effective alternative has been identified by the state departments of Ecology and Health and approved by fire safety officials.

Three hundred healthcare professionals signed a letter supporting the ban on PBDEs, citing harmful health impacts from PBDEs including learning and behavioral disorders, memory impairments, disruption of thyroid function, reproductive effects, and cancer. The letter's authors noted that substantial evidence shows the buildup of PBDEs in people, orca whales, and the environment, and new studies find that the deca form breaks down into other forms of PBDEs that have already been phased out.

"This action by the Washington State Legislature marks a crucial step forward for the health, development and learning of Washington's children," said Barry Lawson, MD, immediate past president of the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "By phasing out PBDEs, we can safeguard our children from exposures to these persistent toxic chemicals and act on our responsibility to provide them with a healthier future."

"This is truly a case where prevention is essential," said Judy Huntington R.N., Executive Director of the Washington State Nurses Association. "By passing this legislation, we are making vital progress in protecting our state's children, families and workers from permanent yet preventable harm."

Earth Share's 20th Anniversary Feature - Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation

To celebrate Earth Share of Washington's 20th Anniversary (1987-2007), we are showcasing the work of our organizations over the past two decades. Each month, we'll feature a different Earth Share organization, their contributions to making our communities more vibrant & livable, and their efforts to create a cleaner Washington and a healthy planet. In 1987, Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation (then known as Washington Citizens for Recycling) joined a growing coalition of environmental organizations, known at the time as the Environmental Fund of Washington and later to become Earth Share. WCRC was one of the founding 10 organizations in this young and growing coalition.

On Earth Share of Washington's 20th anniversary, Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation celebrates the impact Earth Share and its member organizations have had on the human and environmental health of Washington State. We are very grateful to Earth Share and to all the individuals who donate through their workplace giving campaigns.

In Washington, recycling is now a household word - and a household activity. However, that wasn't the case in 1980 when Washington Citizens for Recycling (now Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation) opened its doors. WCFR was started by a group of citizens who had worked together on a hard fought but unsuccessful attempt to pass a bottle bill in Washington. Those concerned citizens recognized the need for a statewide group that would advocate on behalf of the public interest on solid and hazardous waste issues.

Over the past 20 years, WCRC has worked to enhance recycling and waste prevention through a combination of policy initiatives, education campaigns, and pilot projects to demonstrate the changes they were seeking. In the early years of the organization, they actively engaged in numerous legislative efforts. They also operated a recycling center in north Seattle (before the age of curbside recycling) and ran "recyclathons" that brought media attention to the issues of litter and recycling.

Perhaps their most ambitious and successful early effort, however, was a multi-year campaign advocating for a solid waste management system that would encourage waste reduction and recycling as top priorities. The campaign gained momentum and culminated in the passage of the 1989 Waste Not Washington Act, the nation’s first comprehensive solid waste law. This omnibus law addressed a range of solid waste issues: recycling goals and collection practices for recyclable materials; local planning; problem wastes, including tires and batteries; market development; public education; packaging practices; and more. This influential law set a 50% statewide recycling goal and initiated the activities that made curbside recycling a widespread reality in Washington.

In the 1990’s, WCRC's used motor oil collection program stands out for its creativity and effectiveness. It is also a noteworthy early example of engagement of the retail sector in the takeback of one of the products they sell. From 1990-1994, they pulled together many players to establish a network of retail collection sites for used motor oil at over thirty locations in western Washington. This served as a catalyst for an additional 60 sites statewide. In total, the program diverted nearly one million gallons of used motor oil from polluting Washington's waters in the first 24 months of collection. The program also helped spur the use of re-refined oil by many fleets, thus “closing the loop” between collecting the used motor oil and purchasing the recycled product.

Today, takeback of toxic products by retailers - sometimes funded by manufacturers - is a growing trend. Most notable is the private sector "Take It Back Network" for computers and TVs in King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Yakima Counties. Other private sector collection programs exist (sometimes statewide, sometimes in specific counties) for rechargeable batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and thermostats.

Over the years, WCRC has continued to advocate for convenient, responsible and expanded recycling. Washington's recycling rate, which was 15% in 1986, has risen to 44% in 2005. While still short of the state's 50% recycling goal, the success of recycling programs has caused some people to ask, “What's left to do?” The answer is, "Plenty!" Individual waste generation is continuing to rise (from 6.7 pounds per person per day in 1993 to 7.9 pounds in 2005). Much recycled material is actually "down-cycled" – made into products that will be thrown away when we’re done with them. And, many products contain toxics, making them more difficult and risky to recycle.

We can learn a lot from the citizens who banded together to pass a bottle bill in the late 70’s and went on to create WCRC. Bottle bills were early precursors of an idea that is now beginning to emerge in the United States – product stewardship.

Product stewardship signals a sea change. It looks upstream to product design. It also revisits the question, "Who is responsible for the health and environmental impacts of a product – including when it’s recycled or disposed?"

In the past, local governments typically have been responsible for providing disposal or recycling for products. With product stewardship, manufacturers take responsibility for sustainable product design up-front and pay for recycling or disposal at end-of-life. Product stewardship is therefore often called producer responsibility or shared responsibility. Although not well known in the U.S., product stewardship has swept like wildfire throughout the European Union, Canada, Japan, South Korea and elsewhere, and is being applied to many different products such as paint, pesticides, medicines, tires, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs, and beverage containers.

In early 2006, with WCRC’s leadership and lots of teamwork, Washington passed its first product stewardship law. This is the biggest step forward for recycling in Washington in over a decade and is the most progressive law of its kind in the country. This landmark law creates a manufacturer-financed system for recycling computers and TVs starting in 2009. This will mean free and convenient electronics recycling for all residents, schools and small businesses throughout Washington – in rural and urban areas, and both east and west of the mountains. In addition, when electronics manufacturers pay to recycle their products, they will have a financial incentive to make computers and TVs that are less toxic and easier to recycle.

From curbside recycling to the new electronics recycling law, it's been an exciting and productive 20 years. As WCRC continues advocating for waste prevention and recycling, seeking ways to influence product design will be an essential part of our plan. WCRC looks forward to additional significant strides in the next 20 years as products are designed with recycling in mind.

A Western Screech Owl Returns Home

- By Kevin Mack of Earth Share organization PAWS Wildlife Center

On March 3, 2007 a Western Screech Owl found herself sitting in a familiar wooded area next to a stream along Highway 101 just north of Shelton. For the first time in more than six weeks, she was home. Before that evening, her last flight in the area had occurred on January 13th. It had ended abruptly when the owl collided with the passenger side door of a passing truck. The man who had been driving the truck scooped up the stunned owl, and after two days and several phone calls he transported her to the PAWS Wildlife Center in Lynnwood.

Upon admission at PAWS, the screech owl was assigned the case #07-0031. She was still showing signs of head trauma, and she had a pronounced droop in her left wing. X-rays showed that the bird had broken her left humerus when she collided with the truck. Her wing was wrapped to immobilize the fracture and allow the bone to heal. The owl did not approve. She repeatedly removed her bandage and attempted to use her wing. It became clear that surgical intervention would be necessary in order to immobilize the fractured bone.

On January 19, PAWS wildlife veterinarian Dr. John Huckabee performed surgery on screech owl 07-0031. Dr. Huckabee stabilized the humeral fracture with a steel pin and a small piece of wire (known as "cerclage wire"). Post-surgical X-rays showed that the broken ends of the bone were in excellent alignment. The wing was re-wrapped with a difficult-to-remove bandage, and the owl finally began to recover.

By January 26, the screech owl's bandage was removed. The fracture site was well stabilized by the metal pin and wire, and the bone seemed to be healing very well. At the beginning of February, the owl was examined by veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Tom Sullivan who determined that she had not suffered any eye damage at the time of her injury. Her prognosis was looking better every day.

On February 6, Dr. Huckabee removed the pin from the owl's humerus. The fracture site was very stable, and the bird seemed to have the full range of motion in her left wing. The following day she was moved to a small outdoor cage, and three days later she was ready to test her newly healed wing in a large flight enclosure.

It took owl 07-0031 some time to regain her stamina, and to condition her newly mended wing. During the first week of her pre-release conditioning, her left wing appeared slightly stiff and weak in comparison to her right wing. The owl's flight steadily improved, and by her third week in the flight enclosure she was flying as if her wing had never been broken. Her treatment was complete and it was time for her to resume her life.

On March 3 the owl exited her transport carrier and took her first free flight since her injury. This time the owl's flight did not end with a sickening thud against a metal door. It ended with a perfect, soft landing on a sheltered cedar branch. The only sounds to be heard were the gurgle of the creek nearby and the occasional passing car on the highway above the slope.

May is National Bike Month

May 18th is National Bike to Work and School Day

The Bicycle Alliance of Washington offers programs to help you get started bicycle commuting

Are you looking for advice about commuting by bicycle? The Bicycle Alliance of Washington has the resources you need to select a route and learn the basics of riding in traffic. The Alliance can also help you select a bike and learn basic repair skills. Every Friday afternoon in March, April and May from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, Kent Peterson, the Bicycle Alliance Commute Program Director, will answer any and all commuting questions at the Seattle Bike Station, 311 3rd Avenue South.. Stop by to chat, get a bike map, learn how to fix a flat tire and learn more about commuting in the Puget Sound area.

Why ride you bike to work or school?

Bike commuting lets you:

• Ignore traffic reports
• Fit a workout into your busy day
• Feel energized when you arrive at work or school
• Get more control over your schedule
• Avoid parking hassles & costs
• Help improve the region's air quality
• Be part of a growing trend in King County
• Set an example of a healthy lifestyle for kids

What is a Bike Buddy and where can I find one?

If you're new to bicycle commuting, you'll get all of the support you need to get started through the Bike Buddy program. Your bike buddy or “mentor” can help you determine if your bike is "commute-ready" before taking it out on the road. Once you start riding, you'll also get a new rider packet with commuter items and discount coupons. On the other hand, if you're a more experienced rider, you'll get help only in the areas you specify.

In all cases, you will receive personalized, one-on-one attention from someone who has commuted by bike for years!

For bike commute advice anytime, call the Bicycle Alliance at 206-224-9252 or email bikebuddy@bicyclealliance.org

Interested in having a Bike Buddy presentation at your office or organization?

Experienced cyclists are available to conduct lunchtime sessions on bicycle commuting for interested colleagues. At the end of the session, participants can sign up to be individually matched with a Bike Buddy.

To schedule such a presentation, contact The Bicycle Alliance at (206) 224-9252.

Riders who want to learn basic repairs can get hands-on instruction.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities - May 2007

• May – All Month - Hiking Trail Restoration - Washington Trails Association (WTA) is the most active hiking trail restoration and advocacy organization in Washington State. In 2007, volunteers have already contributed more than 7,000 hours of volunteer service restoring hiking trails. Join that effort and be a part of protecting and maintaining trails around Washington State. This month, WTA hosts more than 20 trail work parties. To find a work party in your neck of the woods, please visit the Washington Trails Association website at www.wta.org and signup today!
• May 3 - 2006-2007 Speakers Series - Tales of Fish Sex - 7:00pm - 9:00pm - REI Flagship Store, 222 Yale Ave. N., Seattle, WA - Fish are beyond doubt the most uninteresting animals when it comes to sex. Over the last 500 million years or so, fish have evolved the most varied ways of reproducing you can imagine (and several that most of you probably have not contemplated). In this R-rated frolic, the aptly named Dr. Love takes us on a roller coaster ride through the sordid underbelly of piscine reproduction. For more information, contact KrisTina Hertz at (206) 382-7007 or email khertz@pugetsound.org. Tickets are $8 at the door.
• May 5 - Lincoln Park No Ivy Day - 10:00am - 2:00pm - Join EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership and the No Ivy League as they celebrate No Ivy Day in an effort work to make the forests and shoreline of Lincoln Park healthy! The projects will include invasive plant removal, preparing areas for planting native plants, and planting native plants. For more information, contact Chris LaPointe, Volunteer Program Manager at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 or email chris@earthcorps.org.
• May 12 - Mud Bay Habitat Restoration - 9:00am - 12:00pm - 4937 Mud Bay Rd. NW, Olympia, WA - Join People For Puget Sound, Capitol Land Trust and Sound Stewards at the Randall restoration site on Mud Bay. Volunteers will be working all summer to fight the invasive weeds on this site. The plantings from three years ago are looking great and will be covered in spring leaves and blooms. Put on your (work) gloves and join the fun! For more information, please contact Nicki Johnson at nicki@thurston.com or by calling 206-382-7007 ext. 220.
• May 12 - 5th Annual Lake Union Sweep - 8:15am – 1:00pm - Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is proudly sponsoring the 5th annual Lake Union Sweep, the Soundkeeper's biggest clean up volunteer event of the year. The event, which includes the waters of Portage Bay, will feature a volunteer cleanup effort that combines the resources of over thirty organizations, businesses, and government agencies. The event is made possible by support from local businesses. Last year, over 200 volunteers helped remove more than 1.25 tons of trash from the lake and surrounding shoreline. Notable 'Trophy Trash' included a fiberglass sink, barbeque grill, partially full beer keg, teddy bear, a "mystery" barrel containing unknown liquid (likely lake water), and plenty of styrofoam and plastic. In addition to the cleanup portion of the event, many sponsors and supporting organizations will participate in an Environmental Exhibit where the organizations will showcase their efforts at improving the environment and recreational access in the community. For more information or to sign-up, please visit the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance web site at http://www.pugetsoundkeeper.org/ or call 206-297-7002.
• May 15 - Cascade Land Conservancy's Conservation Awards Breakfast – Save the date for Cascade Land Conservancy's 12th Annual Conservation Awards Breakfast on Tuesday May 15, 2007 from 7:30-9:00am at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center. Cascade Land Conservancy is pleased to announce that Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire will join as their special guest! The 12th Annual Conservation Awards Breakfast will bring together over 1,800 guests - civic, elected, business and environmental leaders to celebrate innovative, regional leadership.
• May 16 - Ride of Silence – 6:30pm - Gas Works Park, Seattle - Join cyclists worldwide to honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways. Rides have been planned for Everett, Tacoma, and Seattle. This is NOT a Critical Mass Ride. There are no shirts or items for sale, there's no fee or registration. Each ride is approximately 10-12 miles long, is ridden at a 12 MPH pace, and is Silent. It's not just a club ride. It's a ride for Moms, Dads, brothers & sisters, family & friends, beginning cyclists to the racers, anyone who wishes to honor a fellow cyclist that has been killed or injured by a motorist while out riding and to let them know they MUST Share the Road with bicyclists. For more information, please visit the Ride of Silence website at www.rideofsilence.org.
• May 19 - Jetty Island beach clean-up day - 10:00am - 1:00pm - Jetty Island, Everett, WA - You've heard of spring cleaning... now it's time to help give Jetty Island a spring cleaning of its own! Join them for a day of trail maintenance, weeding, and beach clean-up as we help the Port of Everett and City of Everett Parks Department gear up for Jetty Island Days this summer. For more information, please contact Cara Ianni at cara@stillysnofish.org or by calling 425-252-6686.
• May 19 - Vashon-Maury Island Lowtide Celebration - 11:00am - 4:00pm - Point Robinson Park, Eastern tip of Maury Island, Vashon, WA - Come to beautiful Point Robinson when the tide goes all the way out to minus 3+ feet. Island families are celebrating the shoreline with artists, naturalists, lighthouse keepers, geologists, storytellers, plant experts, scuba divers and many others. They're planning a raft of shoreline activities throughout the day, all free and family friendly! For more information, please contact Daoud Miller at DMiller@pugetsound.org or by calling 206-382-7007.
• May 21 - Pioneer Park Restoration Work Party - 2:00pm - 5:00pm - Work with EarthCorps and the City of Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Dept. to help restore Pioneer Park. Pioneer Park is 113 acres of forested habitat, the largest forested park on Mercer Island. This park is home to over 70 bird species and 12 different mammals, and offers the most extensive trail system on the island. The restoration goals for this park include planting native conifer trees; removing non-native plants, such as ivy, that prevent native plants from growing; and site maintenance activities. For more information, contact Chris LaPointe, Volunteer Program Manager at (206) 322-9296, ext. 217 chris@earthcorps.org