Earth Share of Washington

Short Session, Big Wins: 2008 in Olympia

Numerous Earth Share of Washington organizations were active in the short 2008 legislative session, addressing a broad range of environmental issues from local solutions to global warming to promoting sustainable transportation to protecting children from toxics in toys and other products. Here is a summary of just a few success stories this session:

Washington Toxics Coalition - Children's Safe Product Act
After the Senate's 40 to 9 approval of the Children's Safe Product Act on March 7th, the House concurred a few days later with a vote of 92 to 2. At press time, the bill was on the Governor's desk awaiting signature.

"This is a significant victory that will protect children from dangerous chemicals in toys and other products," said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, Environmental Health Advocate for Washington Toxics Coalition. "This bill is the strongest in the nation and will serve as a model for others to follow."

The bill received critical support from doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, especially in the final days leading up to its passage. The final bill includes the following:

• The strongest lead, cadmium, and phthalates standards for children's products in the nation.
• Requirements for state agencies to identify other chemicals potentially present in toys and other children's products that could harm children's health.
• Critical right-to-know provisions that will provide consumers information on toxic chemical content of toys and other products.

Transportation Choices Coalition - Promoting Sustainable Transportation
Transportation Choices Coalition convened a group of progressive transportation interests with the goal of combining resources behind a short list of legislative priorities for 2008 and a powerful lobby day to capitalize on their political strength. They arrived at five top-priority issues for the 2008 session. Check out their successes:

• Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT): Tools for a Sustainable Future - As part of the governor's Climate Advisory Team process, decreasing VMT was a "most promising" strategy at reducing greenhouse gas emission and easing congestions on our freeways. The Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled proposal in HB 2815 will: Set initial state benchmarks to reduce per capita VMT, giving regions tools to succeed and launch a collaborative process to clearly identify key strategies to achieve VMT reduction.
• Transportation Education for Kids & The Matthew Tatsuo Nakata Act - Our local neighborhoods and communities thrive when we all have the opportunity to get around in ways that are healthy and safe. Named for the Seattle City Council aide killed in November by a motorist while crossing a West Seattle street, the Matthew "Tatsuo" Nakata Act (HB 2564) was passed by the House 73 - 22, and the Senate 45 - 2. It would add pedestrian and bicycle safety to the basic minimum curriculum for driver training.
• Local Solutions to Global Warming - The choices made in local land use and zoning plans have a huge impact on global warming emissions. SB 6580, which was approved by the House 58 - 35, and the Senate 30 - 18, will establish a competitive grants program for local governments leading planning efforts; will provide tools and technology to achieve their goals of significant climate reductions; and will launch a stakeholder process to make recommendations for policy changes necessary for local governments to reduce their climate impacts.
• Tolling: Stronger Vision, Pro-Transit Policies - The legislature built a foundation for tolling policy in this year's HB 1773, which was approved by the House 60 - 33 and the Senate 29 - 19. The bill is consistent with our stated principles including:
  • The featured role of variable pricing to achieve reliable movement of people and goods
  • Authority to reinvest tolling revenues into transit service and capital, demand management, better transportation choices, and safety and maintenance in the corridor
  • Consideration of social equity, environmental, and economic issues, as well as making progress towards greenhouse gas reduction goals.

NW Energy Coalition - Boosting Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is the cleanest, cheapest and most abundant source of energy available. Recent studies suggest that energy efficient efforts can slash our global warming carbon emissions by half. And energy efficiency makes good fiscal sense, with potential utility bill savings for homeowners and local governments totaling millions of dollars. With this in mind, NW Energy Coalition and other clean energy advocates and environmentalists supported state legislation this year aimed at saving money and energy for Washington consumers and businesses, while cutting climate pollution.

Three pieces of energy efficiency legislation passed out of this year's legislature and have been signed by the Governor. The bills were a fraction of the total package of energy efficiency bills introduced, but are a step forward.

A big win for clean energy and low-income advocates, the passage of SHB 2847 provides sales and use tax exemptions for low-income weatherization materials and services used by community action agencies. The tax relief will encourage more weatherization of low-income residents' homes, cutting energy use, and lowering utility bills.

SHB 3120 requires the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development to conduct a study on tax incentives intended to encourage green building. The study will be presented to the legislature December 1, 2008. It's hoped that future legislation to encourage green buildings will emerge from this report.

Finally, the small business B&O tax credit, HB 3362, will help small businesses afford certain highly energy efficiency appliances, such as freezers, washing machines, and ovens.

Recent studies have shown that we can meet all new demand for electricity through 2018 with energy efficiency and renewable energy. To meet the Governor's climate goals, we must continue to meet all new demand with clean energy and will need to replace an estimated 7,000 megawatts of obsolete fossil fuel power plants in the region with renewables and energy efficiency. NW Energy Coalition will continue to support and encourage State policies that promote energy efficiency as a mechanism that reduces energy use, consumers' utility bills and climate-changing pollution.

To find out more about the 2008 legislative session, please visit the Priorities for a Healthy Washington website - www.environmentalpriorities.org

Posted in the April 2008 Earth Page

Safe Start for Kids: New Online Resource for Parents Seeking Safer Children's Products

- By Maria Mergel of Earth Share organization Washington Toxics Coalition

"What kind of baby bottle is safe to use?" "How can I find the safest crib mattress?" Many concerned parents call Washington Toxics Hotline with questions like these, hoping to avoid the chemical hazards hidden in everyday children's products. Recognizing that parents and others needed a resource to help make smart decisions for children's health, on February 5th we launched www.SafeStartForKids.org, our online guide to choosing safer children's products and creating healthy environments for children.

"I thought that products marketed for children have been tested for safety, but resources like HealthyToys.org have shown that many children's products found in stores today contain chemicals linked with health effects like cancer, hormone problems, and learning disabilities" said Brooke Bell, member of the Toxics Coalition and mother of three young children in Tumwater, WA. "I want the freedom to choose safe, toxic-free products for my children, and Safe Start for Kids shows me how to do that."

Safe Start for Kids features handy tips on choosing children's products including baby bottles and water bottles, crib mattresses, lunch boxes, food containers, clothing, toys, art supplies, and personal care items like lotions, shampoos, and diaper cream. It also offers guidelines for creating a healthy nursery and choosing day care facilities, and provides expecting mothers with tips on reducing exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy.

Knowing how busy new and expecting parents can be, we focused on creating information that is quick to read and easy to use. The product guides in Safe Start for Kids are presented in table format, with one column of products to choose, and one column of products to avoid. For example, a parent searching for information on lunch boxes will quickly find that vinyl lunch boxes should be avoided and that cloth lunch bags should be used instead. Each product table is followed by a few Healthy Tips to help with shopping decisions, as well as links to additional resources. Another feature of our site is Plastics 101, a quick guide to help parents navigate the confusing world of plastics.

Visit www.SafeStartForKids.org, and let us know if you have comments!

Posted in the March 2008 Earth Page

Clean Marina Washington Celebrates Milestone, Goes Statewide

- By Chris Wilke of Earth Share organization Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

In August 2007, the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance-sponsored Clean Marina Washington program officially completed two years as the recognized statewide environmental certification program for marinas as it proudly announced the certification of the 30th marina under the program. The program is based on, and continues to work closely with, the EnviroStars program, which certified its first marina in 1995.

The Clean Marina Washington program certifies marinas that take comprehensive steps to prevent pollution from marina and boating activities including fuel spills, boat maintenance, sewage disposal and stormwater. Clean Marina Washington now has 32 certified marinas, including public and private marinas, full service marinas, yacht clubs, military facilities and marina-resorts. Washington's strongest asset is the seven-member partnership created for the program which includes business interests, government agencies and environmental advocates.

Thanks to a recent Department of Ecology Public Participation Grant, Clean Marina Washington is now funded to operate the program statewide. Even though it has always been a policy to respond to interest throughout the state, this new funding insures that staff will be visiting marinas in every region of the state and offering assistance to marinas that work towards pollution prevention. New aspects of the program include a Dockwalker program to increase boater outreach and a bilgewater collection pilot project to increase the availability of facilities for the proper disposal of oily bilgewater.

For a list of certified marinas and partner organizations go to: www.cleanmarinawashington.org

If you would like more information on the program or would like to get involved as a "Dockwalker" contact Chris Wilke at 206-297-7002.

Posted in the March 2008 Earth Page

2008 Priorities for a Healthy Washington

- By Kerry McHugh of Earth Share organization Washington Environmental Council

Each year Washington's environmental community comes together to select four legislative Priorities for a Healthy Washington. By joining together, the groups that make up the Priorities collaborative are better able to advance ambitious goals in the legislature and make a difference for Washington’s land, air, and water.

This year’s Priorities encompass legislation to get our state on track to meet its goals for reducing global warming pollution, to make our communities denser and more climate-friendly, to protect and restore our urban forests, and to invigorate local farms while providing healthier food for kids.

The community is already hard at work - helping create coalitions, educate legislators, and engage environmental advocates to build support for the Priorities in the lead up to the 2008 legislative session which begins on January 14th.

Below is a look at the four Priorities for a Healthy Washington. If you’re interested in more in-depth coverage of a particular Priority go to http://www.environmentalpriorities.org to learn more.

Washington Climate Action
Earlier this year our state set goals to reduce global warming pollution. This Priority will create a structure and timeline for making these goals real. Taking action in 2008 is crucial to make progress on this important issue. Foot-dragging at the federal level is a problem, and we can take action at the state level to lead the nation toward solving this global challenge. Responsible limits on climate pollution will establish Washington as a strong leader in the clean energy economy, increase energy independence, create good new jobs, and deliver a better future for our children.

Local Solutions to Global Warming
About half of our state’s global warming pollution comes from transportation. We need to address this factor if we are to make significant headway. This Priority will help local governments make responsible plans about where we live, how we get around, and consider how those choices can reduce global warming pollution. With the dramatic population growth expected in our state, we must make responsible decisions - now - so we can reduce driving and promote efficient, livable communities.

Evergreen Cities
Since 1971, we have lost almost half of the urban forest land surrounding Puget Sound, which increases air pollution and stormwater flow, and costs the tax payers billions of dollars. Proper forest planning, management, and stewardship are necessary to reverse this trend. Keeping existing trees and planting new ones enhances quality of life for people, increases property values, gives us cleaner water and habitat for birds and wildlife, and will make Washington's cities evergreen.

Local Farms - Healthy Kids
This effort addresses two major challenges facing our state: concerns about the diet and health of our children and the well-being of our small and mid-sized farms. By connecting local kids with local food we get great Washington produce to schools and can improve children’s health. By creating vibrant demand for local food, we help stimulate local agriculture, which helps to keep working lands working.

Get Involved
There are many avenues if you are interested in helping pass these four Priorities -- two great opportunities are our annual Legislative Workshop (January 12th in Seattle) and then 2008 Lobby Day (January 23rd) where people from around the state come to Olympia to make their voices heard in the Capitol. For more information and to register, please go to Priorities for a Healthy Washington web site -- www.environmentalpriorities.org.

Posted in the January 2008 Earth Page

Preserving the "great outdoors" in Sultan Basin

It's been years in the making, but now efforts by Friends of the Trail to clean up an area north of the town of Sultan in Snohomish County are beginning to pay off. And the real winners are campers, hikers and recreationists in Northwest Washington.

The area, known to locals as the Sultan Basin, was both used and abused as an illegal trash dumping area and shooting gallery. "It was a Wild West show out there for years... decades really." according to Wade Holden of Friends of the Trail. “People would bring old TV sets, computers, sofas—you name it--out as targets. They'd have their fun shooting this stuff into Olney Creek and just leave the junk and the gun shells to pile up."

It was a dangerous combination; glass and heavy metals from the computer monitors leaching into the soil and water, accompanied by occasional stray bullets. Said Holden "No matter how often Friends of the Trail came out to the basin to haul out trash, we just couldn't make a dent in the problem. And of course campers and picnickers felt like they were taking their lives in their hands just using the area."

Things took a turn for the better after the Snohomish County Council voted to ban shooting in the basin. The Washington Department of Natural Resources now regularly sends law enforcement officers to patrol the area to enforce the no shoot policy. A year ago, 30 to 40 persons might have been stopped for illegal shooting at the Sultan Basin on a typical Saturday. Now things have quieted down to the point where the patrolling DNR officer often goes the entire day without hearing a gun shot.

And good news for outdoor enthusiasts in the area--the piles of trash and debris are diminishing as well. As Holden comments, "Friends of the Trail will continue in our efforts to clean up the Sultan Basin. There's a great deal of satisfaction in finally seeing things getting better."

Posted in the October 2007 Earth Page

State Legislature Votes for a Healthy Washington

For the past five years, twenty-two Washington-based environmental groups have come together and identified four critical environmental issues and committed to promoting solutions in the state legislature. Known as the Priorities for a Healthy Washington, this collaborative and focused approach is innovative and has proven to be a highly effective and a formidable force for change in the state.

2007 was a banner year for the Priorities. The coalition, led by Earth Share of Washington organization Washington Environmental Council (WEC) and our friends at Washington Conservation Voters, went an unprecedented four for four, as all of the Priorities passed and were signed into law. This is great news. It means a healthier Puget Sound, more money for Washington Wildlife and Recreation Programs, better air quality because of cleaner fuels, and ban on toxic fire retardants – the first of its kind in the nation!

A quick recap of the bills:

Clean-Air/Clean Fuels
The Clean Air-Clean Fuels bill will bring better air quality, reduced petroleum dependence, and a new source of good jobs to Washington. It will help keep Washington’s money in Washington, rather than using it to import gas and oil.

Passage of this bill will lead to 100% biofuels use in state and local fleets by 2015, dramatically increasing the Washington market for cleaner fuels and vehicles. This increased demand for cleaner fuels and vehicles should make both more available to the average consumer, as well as improving air quality.

Under the new regulations, Washington will create the infrastructure and incentives to produce and use biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol, actions which should reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of the air we breathe

Save Our Sound
Puget Sound touches almost all aspects of Pacific Northwest life, from recreational activities to providing livelihoods to the local fishing industry. And Puget Sound is sick. Thankfully, steps are being taken to return the Sound to health by 2020. These steps include a new commitment to action and accountability – real emphasis on making sure all money allocated to restore Puget Sound is part of a smart, coordinated, and prioritized effort.

To best organize these measures, a new agency has been created – the Puget Sound Partnership. This agency will ensure that our tax dollars are used for solutions for Puget Sound which make a difference. It will serve as a command center for all Puget Sound related actions – coordinating and evaluating relief efforts. This new agency and a newly created independent science panel will galvanize Washington’s fight to protect and restore the Sound for generations to come.

$100 Million for Wildlife and Recreation Programs
Included in this year’s budget was a big win for everyone who enjoys Washington’s outdoors. Priorities for a Healthy Washington lobbied hard and succeeded in having $100 million included for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) over the next two years.

This was a huge step, as the valuable programs administered by the WWRP have suffered from a stagnant budget since 1990, despite Washington’s dramatic population growth of 25% in the same period. The funds will support 135 projects, including new state and local parks, shorelines and wildlife habitat, plus the state's first ever funding for a farmland preservation program.

Eliminating Toxic Flame Retardants
Washington is the first state in the nation to ban all types of toxic flame retardants (PBDEs). Despite the existence of safer alternatives, until now, many manufacturers have used PBDEs in ordinary household products: televisions, computers, furniture, and carpeting. Unfortunately, like other toxic substances like mercury, PBDEs build up in the food chain and levels detected in humans, animals and the environment are sharply increasing. Exposure to PBDEs can negatively impact learning, memory and behavior. Thanks to Priorities legislation, Washington state will begin the process of ending PBDE usage.

While we’re only halfway through 2007, WEC and our partner groups are already thinking about the 2008 legislative session. To learn more about the Priorities and to get involved in the effort to make them a reality, visit www.environmentalpriorities.org.

Posted in the June 2007 Earth Page

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.

Posted in the May 2007 Earth Page

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."

Posted in the May 2007 Earth Page

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.

Posted in the May 2007 Earth Page

Keeping Medicine Out of Our Water

- By Eva Dale of Earth Share organization Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation

What should we do with our expired or leftover medications? For a while we were told to flush them or put them in the trash. Now we know better. We know that toilets, sinks and garbage cans are not the right places to dispose of unwanted medicine. Improper disposal of unwanted medicines increases the risk of environmental contamination, accidental poisoning, and abuse. Earth Share organization Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation is partnering with several agencies, organizations, and pharmacies to provide a disposal solution through a medicine return pilot program. Unwanted medications should be as easy to return for proper disposal as they are to purchase.

Environmental Impact
Studies show that medicines are making their way into Puget Sound and waterways nationwide. A nationwide study performed by the United States Geological Survey showed trace amounts of chemicals found in prescription drugs in 80 percent of the streams surveyed across the country. Medications can enter the water when they are flushed down toilets and sinks or put into the garbage, or when humans and animals pass drugs through their bodies. If disposed of or excreted to the sewer (via sinks and toilets) medicine goes to wastewater treatment plants that offer varying levels of treatment. Regardless of the level of treatment, most conventional wastewater treatment is not effective in eliminating the majority of pharmaceutical compounds. For homes that have septic tanks, medicines may enter the environment through seepage into the groundwater or soil. There is a risk that medicines disposed of at landfills can leach into the soil and water. In the case of modern landfills, leachate is often collected and sent to wastewater treatment plants, also ultimately going into the waterways. How much each source of disposal contributes to the contamination is unknown.

More recently, scientists are beginning to see that some of the same medicines that are showing up as contaminants in the water can have negative effects on animal and aquatic. Of particular concern is the impact on hormone systems regulating such things as reproduction and development. For example, when developing tadpoles are exposed to tiny amounts of the main ingredient in Prozac, they do not develop limbs.

Abuse and Accidental Poisoning
Medications account for the most common poison exposure category in the U.S. The large number of medications available in the home presents a substantial accidental poisoning risk if they are not properly stored or disposed. Also, unsecured disposal to the garbage and stockpiles of unwanted, leftover medicines in the home increase the risk of drug abuse. Access to prescription drugs for the purpose of diversion can be as close as a household medicine cabinet.

Safe, Free, Convenient Return
Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation is working to provide free and safe disposal of unwanted household medicines through participating local pharmacies. This is the first program of its kind in the country. To use the Medicine Return pilot program, leave medicines in their original containers and bring them to a participating pharmacy. Currently there are seven drop-off pharmacy locations in Washington State. This pilot project will be expanding to additional locations soon. To find a pharmacy drop-off location near you, visit www.MedicineReturn.com or call 1-800-RECYCLE (1-800-732-9253).

Items you can return (to participating pharmacies):

• Prescription medications
• Over-the-counter medications
• Medication samples
• Medications for pets
• Vitamins
• Medicated ointments/lotions
• Inhalers
• Liquid medication in glass or leak-proof containers

Items NOT accepted:

• Needles
• Thermometers
• Narcotics (controlled substances)
• IV bags
• Bloody or infectious waste
• Personal care products
• Business waste
• Empty containers
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Aerosol cans

No nearby participating pharmacy? If a there isn’t a pharmacy drop-off location nearby or you have unwanted medications that aren’t accepted, the next best option is to follow these steps:
1. Keep the medication in its original container. 2. Modify the contents to discourage consumption. Add water and flour or kitty litter. 3. Seal and Conceal – tape the bottle closed, securely double wrap the medications in a nontransparent bag and 4. Discard in the garbage not in the recycling bin.

For more information about this program, visit www.MedicineReturn.com or call 1-800-RECYCLE (1-800-732-9253). For information on waste reduction or recycling, visit www.wastenotwashington.org.

Posted in the April 2007 Earth Page

Community Stewardship Along the Shores of the Duwamish

- By R.S. Mancuso, Earth Share of Washington Guest Author

R.S. Mancuso is participating in Earth Share of Washington’s Journalism Internship Program for Earth Share of Washington this winter. In addition to writing for Earth Share, she is a student at Prescott College in Arizona, working her way towards a degree in Marine Environmental Studies and Creative Writing.

I recently had the opportunity to visit a restoration site on the Duwamish River, organized by People for Puget Sound. Herring House Park in South Seattle is a lovely little park, formerly the site of Seaboard Lumber, one of the first and largest mills in Seattle from 1929 to the 1980's. When restoration commenced in 2000 the land was a barren dirt lot. With the help of the People for Puget Sound’s Sound Stewards, this park has been transformed into a lush haven for returning wildlife.

Eliza Ghitis, the Habitat Restoration Coordinator for People for Puget Sound, is proud of the fact that community members conduct the maintenance of each of the restoration sites. The volunteer Sound Stewards are responsible for maintenance, monitoring, and data collection from their adopted site. Eliza says, "One of the things that is helpful about the Sound Stewardship program, is it helps connect people to Puget Sound."

Sound Stewards, a program run by The People for Puget Sound, consists of ordinary - yet extraordinary – people who make this restoration possible by volunteering their time. When they sink their hands into dirt to plant grasses and trees, these volunteers are literally changing their world. Sound Stewards are trained by People for Puget Sound to care for shorelines and, in the process, they develop communities to help maintain and beautify the adopted shoreline.

Here at Herring House Park, little paths wind through grassy patches. Trees and assorted plants line the walkways. There are benches to sit on and watch the river drift by. The park is peaceful despite being situated in an industrial area. While I was visiting, quite a few people strolled through the park while others walked their dogs. This park held the feeling of community.

On the bank of the Duwamish River you can see a fenced area with strings running back and forth, cordoning off different sections where replanting of native grasses takes place. If you follow the path through Herring House Park, you walk through other restored sites, Terminal 107 and Puget Creek.

Eliza pointed out that Puget Creek was once a dumping ground for cement kiln dust. In 1999, it was prepared for restoration by excavating 5,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils.

As a visitor in 2007, I see no evidence of its polluted past. What I see is a place where squirrels and crows have a home. I was able to walk down to a section of beach, watch the birds, and listen to the water lap at the shore. While this shoreline will never be completely wild again, it has been reclaimed by nature with a little help from caring individuals.

With the largest percentage of shoreline property being privately owned, there is a great opportunity for individuals to contribute to improving the health of Puget Sound. Eliza hopes to help people understand how this benefits the community. "We are trying to draw attention to the fact it can raise property values," says Eliza. "There is wildlife returning to these areas - osprey and beavers have moved into the area. I was just at Puget Creek on Saturday and a bald eagle flew by."

Everyone at some point has picked up a newspaper, or magazine, and felt despair when reading about the environment. Puget Sound is in poor heath: orcas are endangered; invasive species have seized hold in waterways; stormwater pollutes the water, poisoning marine creatures.

Can you make a difference?

The answer I found: yes, one person can make a difference. The change one person can effect on his/her surrounding may be small, but with enough people doing something, the total outcome can be vast. Little things can help such as, such as safely disposing of prescription medication (not in toilets or down drains), washing the car at a facility that reuses water, avoiding chemical pesticides. Organizations like People for Puget Sound give everyone a way to get involved with the greater issues concerning our local communities, Puget Sound, and parks.

Posted in the March 2007 Earth Page

On a Duwamish River Patrol with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

- By R.S. Mancuso, Earth Share of Washington Guest Author

R.S. Mancuso is participating in Earth Share of Washington's Journalism Internship Program for Earth Share of Washington this winter. In addition to writing for Earth Share, she is a student at Prescott College in Arizona, working her way towards a degree in Marine Environmental Studies and Creative Writing.

As a scuba diver, I have spent more time under the ocean than on its surface. Today, I wasn't in a boat to see what lay beneath the surface; I was on the water to see what was affecting the marine world from above. I had been invited to join a pollution patrol with Paul Fredrickson, the Outreach Coordinator for the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. We set out from Elliott Bay Marina to patrol the industrial mouth of the Duwamish River, where a large amount of stormwater runoff is introduced to Puget Sound.

Copious amounts of rain here in the Pacific Northwest contribute not only to the beautiful, verdant foliage, but also to the toxic soup that runs down gutters and storm drains into Puget Sound. If you can imagine all of the dirt, brake dust, and oil that accumulates on roadways, the fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns and gardens, construction sights, industrial work sites--all of this and more washes into Puget Sound each time it rains. This water flows into Puget Sound untreated. This soup contaminates the waterways, kills wildlife, and pollutes the fragile ecosystem. The Duwamish River, with its major industrial traffic, ten combined sewer overflows, three emergency overflows, and two hundred storm drains, plays a very major role concerning the health of Puget Sound.

We arrived at the marina around noon. The sky was mottled gray, interrupted with sun breaks. As I walked down the dock, I was taken by how tidy this marina was. I was aware that they participated in the Clean Marina program, a sponsored program of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, but I was very impressed with the appearance of the water. Most marinas that I have visited, the water is covered with an oily rainbow sheen and accented by frothy brown water.

As the boat motored out of the marina a smile spread across my face from ear to ear. I pulled my scarf tight around my shoulders and stared out over the deep blue water. The air was brisk, chilling my nose. The wind picked up with the speed of the small boat. As we bumped across open water the Seattle skyline stretched out before me. The buildings interspersed with trees made me think of my conversation with Sue Joerger, the Soundkeeper and Executive Director of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, that I had earlier in the week. We discussed water quality and her organization's role in improving the health of Puget Sound.

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance's primary objective is to enforce the Clean Water Act. They accomplish this mission in many ways but one of their most unique programs is active monitoring of the waterways of Puget Sound. In addition, they train individuals to identify and report pollution and people violating laws. They also participate in the Clean Marina program along with the EnviroStars program, a program that rates small businesses on how Eco friendly they are. Their small group of volunteers and staff members are on the water at least once a week, collecting water samples and helping to enforce standards in boatyards and marinas.

"We have people trained or equipped to find pollution, and the majority of the pollution is really from the stormwater," explained Soundkeeper Sue Joerger. "Most of the storm drains and pipelines are very deep underwater, therefore invisible to the average person. Stormwater pollution is out of sight and out of mind."

The other important thing she pointed out was the fact people should be aware what they throw down their drains "You should not assume anything that’s going down a storm drain, or going down a sink, is being treated." This means everything from household cleaners to prescription medication, is potentially escaping into our waterways.

As we approached the mouth of the Duwamish River I found myself looking upwards. Huge ships, massive cranes, and stacks of cargo containers dwarfed our small boat. These ocean-going vessels represented this city's interconnectedness to the rest of the world. Just the existence of these massive structures gives proof to the ingenuity of the human mind. That same ingenuity, if applied to the problems of the environment, will carry us far into the future.

Between these mammoth hunks of steel I could see the shoreline: pilings and concrete stacked with machinery, men in hard hats building and or cleaning ships, factories, processing plants... It was clear to me the river played a vital role in the economic health of Seattle. At the same time I could see the huge impact we have on this waterway that flows through our communities, where residents recreate, relax, and sometimes rely upon for subsistence.

Paul Fredrickson pointed out active Superfund clean up sites along the Duwamish. As we traveled upriver I learned from Paul which businesses were working closely with the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, and which businesses still refused to make the necessary effort. The clean up of this waterway is a joint effort between the communities, the government, and the businesses.

My father once told me "to change the world, you needed to start with your own backyard." As a scuba diver I feel the underwater world is my second home. The entire problem is too big for one person alone to turn the series of events.

When asked what individuals could do to make the most difference, Sue Jorger responded, "If people could be aware of the issues and understand them from their personal perspectives then call their legislators, and say 'We want to save Puget Sound.' Remember, government is not going to lead us, government is not going to save Puget Sound-- it's not until you and I stand up that the government and the governor are going to do something about it."

To get involved with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance or to participate in the active Citizen Soundkeeper Program, call them at (206) 297-7002 or visit their website – http://www.pugetsoundkeeper.org/

Priorities for a Healthy Washington’s annual Lobby Day takes place on February 14 where you can join hundreds of citizen lobbyists from around the state meeting face-to-face with legislators on important environmental issues. For more information or to signup, please visit http://www.environmentalpriorities.org/

Posted in the February 2007 Earth Page

The Biggest Fish (News) of 2006

- By Liz Banse of Earth Share organization Washington Foundation for the Environment

2006 has come to a close and the verdict is in. The most headline-grabbing international ocean news of last year was a provocative study published in the November 3 issue of Science magazine.

The study, "Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services," by an international group of ecologists and economists, predicted the collapse (defined as 90% depletion) of all species of wild seafood that are currently fished by 2048, if current trends are not reversed. The tuna fish sandwich you want to buy from the deli at lunchtime today? Gone. The Chilean sea bass you were hoping to order at the restaurant tonight? Gone.

Who is to blame? There are a lot of factors at play in this doomsday scenario. Overfishing, including damaging bottom trawling, coastal pollution, poor ocean governance and more.

What is more important to focus on is that this study shows that it is not too late to reverse this downward trend. With better ocean policy – through an ecosystem based management approach – many species can rebound in a surprisingly short period of time – in less than ten years. The study authors point to integrated fisheries management, pollution control, and maintenance of essential habitats and creation of marine reserves as key ways to restore the health of our oceans.

"From the [Seafood Choices] Alliance's perspective, one of the more significant findings of this study is the inherent ability of the ocean to self-heal and regenerate, but only if given the opportunity," says Mike Boots, Seafood Choices Alliance director.

Seafood buyers and sellers can play a role in ensuring the health of our oceans. Consumers can look for an "eco-label" from a certification outfit like the Marine Stewardship Council. Retailers and restaurants are building environmental sustainability into their purchasing as well. These little steps, combined with large-scale ocean governance changes, will reverse the staggering biodiversity losses now happening in marine environments around the world.

As Jay Stachowicz, marine ecology professor at UC Davis stated in a Sacramento Bee article after the Science study came out, "Diversity is a good thing in our diet, it's a good thing in our stock portfolios, so why shouldn’t it be a good thing for our oceans?"

Posted in the February 2007 Earth Page

The Reach of Hanford's Contamination

- By Tom Carpenter and Amalia Anderson of Earth Share organization Government Accountability Project

The Hanford Reach is a stretch of the Columbia River that runs through the Hanford Nuclear Facility, the largest nuclear waste site in the US. The Columbia River is the primary water source for the region surrounding the Hanford Reach in Eastern Washington and Northern Oregon. This simple fact makes the health and cleanliness of the Reach of utmost importance. People depend on the Columbia River to continue to be a safe water source for a variety of purposes worth noting.

The Hanford Reach is a major spawning ground for salmon, which supports a large fishing community, both locally and regionally. An estimated 80% of the Columbia River’s wild salmon spawn in the Reach. Furthermore, the Hanford Reach is an important wilderness area and is home to several rare plants and animal populations unique to the Northwest. All these things require that the Reach be monitored and verified to be safe; if the river is contaminated, everything that it supports will be affected accordingly.

The Government Accountability Project (GAP) is working with other non-profit organizations interested in fish, environment, and agriculture, toward getting a federal appropriation for performing an independent technical assessment of contamination in the Hanford Reach – past, present and future. This survey would be aimed at gaining a better understanding of the risks involved with the proximity of the Hanford Nuclear Site to the river.

Current studies have not been able to address the whole river or examine the contamination fully. Furthermore, existing studies do not agree on the extent of contamination, making it difficult to gauge the state of the river.

According to the EPA the risk of cancer and genetic mutations are increased with exposures to even low level radiation. Also, many radioactive isotopes, such as iodine, strontium, and radium, that could be ingested in even minimally contaminated water not only travel through the body but are retained by the body. Radioactivity is only part of the problem. For instance, chemical contaminants such as hexavalent chromium also plague the Reach’s salmon spawning habitats.

Government Accountability Project will be working on funding an independent study in the weeks and months to come to ensure that the Hanford Reach stays beautiful and pristine for future generations to enjoy. For more information about the study or to find out how to get involved, please visit the GAP website, www.whistleblower.org.

Posted in the January 2007 Earth Page

What the orcas are telling us

- By Heather Trim of Earth Share organization People For Puget Sound

We lost four orcas this summer. When People For Puget Sound was launched in 1991, there were about 90 Southern resident killer whales. Their numbers peaked to 97 in 1996, declined to 79 in 2001, and stood this year at 90. But sadly the four that died - a 20 year-old male, a 34 year-old female mother of three, a 12 year-old new mother and her four month-old calf – leave us with just 86.

Factors in their decline include their capture for animal parks, food and habitat reductions, toxic contamination, underwater noise, and vessel interactions. People For Puget Sound took on orca recovery as a keystone issue and, along with other orca advocacy groups, succeeded in petitioning the National Marine Fisheries Service to list orcas as an endangered species. As a result, almost all of Puget Sound except for military installations, Hood Canal and near shore waters has been designated as critical habitat for orca protection and the process is underway to adopt an orca recovery plan.

Especially troubling in this decline of orca health are scientific findings of how toxic pollutants, like flame retardant PBDEs, build up in orcas’ fat and how pollutants like PCBs affect their immune and reproductive systems. Because orcas are long-lived mammals just like humans, accumulation of these chemicals come from years of eating food that is contaminated with these pollutants, sometimes in only small amounts. Scientists speculate that the four orca deaths this year were due to malnutrition from low salmon supplies, leading to a reliance on their fat, which in turn drew out toxics and reduced their ability to fight off infections.

What are the whales telling us? By looking at the root factor, it becomes apparent that we also consume from the same food supply, Puget Sound. And, we are sharing persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs), like PBDEs and PCBs, chemicals that build up in the food chain, accumulate in animal fat, and are extremely toxic even in very small quantities.

A study by Sightline Institute found levels of toxic flame retardants in milk samples in Puget Sound women at levels 20 to 40 times higher than levels found in European and Japanese women. A March 2005 study found 35 hazardous industrial chemicals, including PBTs like PCBs, dioxin and toxic flame retardants, in household dust from 10 homes in Washington. The Pollution in People study in May 2006 reported on tests for six groups of chemicals conducted on 10 Washington residents; the tests showed that toxic pollutants are rampant in their bodies.

This fall, Puget Sound residents were warned by state health officials to limit their consumption of local wild Chinook and other fish because of toxic chemical in these fish.

Earlier this year over 500 people attended a conference on Toxics in Puget Sound and over 400 attended safe cosmetics workshops held in Bellevue, Seattle and Tacoma in November. People are increasingly concerned that our state and federal governments have failed to prevent the use of harmful chemicals in consumer products, manufacturing processes, and food production. In 2006, most chemicals are virtually unregulated, and Washington State needs a new comprehensive approach to protect our health from toxic chemicals.

Elected officials have a great opportunity in the 2007 legislative session to truly make a difference, both for the orcas and for the people by passing legislation banning the use of the flame retardant PBDE and by supporting strong measures to reduce stormwater pollution and to clean up polluted sediments in the Sound.

Posted in the December 2006 Earth Page

Working in a toxic environment

- By Natalie Troyer of Earth Share organization Heart of America Northwest Research Center

It started with the midnight sweats and fevers.

But then came the chronic fatigue, chest pains and painful swelling of his feet. Putting on his shoes even became a dreaded task.

"It hurt so bad I’d almost cry," said Hall, an electrician at the Hanford nuclear reservation for almost 26 years.

Five years after the onset of initial symptoms, in 1996, Hall, now 54, was diagnosed with a rare and potentially lethal condition caused by exposure to toxic beryllium.

As the first Hanford worker to be diagnosed with chronic beryllium disease, Hall has become instrumental in fighting to protect his fellow coworkers from exposure to beryllium in the workplace. He also had to fight for medical coverage for his workplace-caused illness.

Hall suspects he contracted chronic beryllium disease while doing maintenance work in a contaminated area where reactor fuel had been fabricated. Beryllium, a silvery metal, was used at Hanford in uranium fuel rods, science experiments and equipment.

Similar to asbestosis, beryllium disease occurs when particles of the metal are inhaled. The disease can take years to manifest itself.

He's had to miss days at work and cut back his hours because of the disease. But he's stayed at Hanford because he wants to help others.

In 2004, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) received 17 Hanford workers’ compensation claims for Beryllium exposure, according to a report from the Government Accountability Project (GAP). Yet at least 46 diagnoses of Beryllium exposure were made that year.

"You'd think that if one person has the same diagnosis as someone else, it should automatically become a claim," Hall said. “But that’s not the way things work... A lot of workers give up because they can't fight the system."

A key problem with the system is that onsite medical services at Hanford are contracted through the DOE, Hall said. The current contractor must act like the workers' attending physician and aim to maximize the worker's health. But at the same time, it must act in the role of the employer aiming to minimize costs and liabilities and get people back to work as soon as possible. These conflicting roles have the potential to reduce the quality of the medical services that workers receive, the GAP report stated.

When asked what he’d like to see changed, Hall said, "We need a doctor close by, in the Tri-Cities, to work for us... And Hanford workers need to work claims through the State of Washington, not through a contractor paid for by the DOE and taxpayers' money."

Heart of America Northwest Research Center works with Hanford employees and whistleblowers to promote safer working conditions and to make sure that sick workers receive treatment.

Posted in the December 2006 Earth Page

No Idling Zones - coming soon to South End neighborhoods!

- By Holly Unger of Earth Share organization Community Coalition for Environmental Justice

Have you spent much time in the South End of Seattle? If so, you may have noticed how different it looks than the rest of our city. If not, consider going on an environmental justice tour led by the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice (CCEJ). In this part of town, bus depots, diesel trucks, high-traffic roads, polluting industries and toxic sites converge. In Rainier Valley, toxins from diesel and auto emissions are a major source of air pollution. Not surprisingly, asthma hospitalization rates are among the highest in our city.

This scenario plays out again and again across our country. Low-income communities and communities of color bear the brunt of exposure to environmental toxins in their workplaces, homes and neighborhoods. Children of color are more likely to have asthma due to air pollution in their neighborhoods. The American Lung Association reported that in 2005, penalties to polluters who violated federal hazardous waste laws were 500% lower in people-of-color communities, compared to areas where whites live. Our regulatory agencies simply aren’t doing enough.

Since 2005, CCEJ has worked with South Seattle residents on the Partnership for Environmental Health and Asthma (PEHA). This community organizing campaign is led by impacted residents who are creating visible solutions to air pollution. The project will reduce asthma suffering by educating residents and business owners about diesel and asking them to sign “No Idling�? pledge cards. In the long term, PEHA will build community and agency support for improved air quality in poor communities.

Why a No Idling campaign?

• Data from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency shows that high traffic areas, like Rainier Avenue and South Seattle roads that lead to the freeway, are at particular risk for bad air.
• Diesel exhaust from trucks in these high traffic areas contains small particles and 40 chemicals that are classified as “hazardous air pollutants�?.
• The South End has a high number of quick marts where people leave cars running to make quick stops and delivery trucks idle.
• Children breathe 50 percent more air per pound than adults.
• Children’s asthma symptoms increase as a result of car exhaust.

PEHA has already made a tremendous impact. After a series of educational meetings about air pollution and asthma, a nine-member steering committee formed, which is led by parents of children with asthma. The group takes a community-based approach by educating fellow community members about the impact of idling near the many convenience stores and businesses in poor South End neighborhoods. Because there are many quick stop marts in South Seattle, the results will be tremendous in the long term.

To truly engage impacted community members in solving environmental problems, we have to take leadership from them and start where people can see the results of their efforts. CCEJ’s No Idling campaign will not only improve air quality in South Seattle, it will empower low-income people and people of color to create environmental health in their communities. It will also pressure agencies and policy makers to make improving air quality in poor communities a major priority. We’ve had victories before by building grassroots power - we know that impacted people can lead change in their communities!

For more information on the Partnership for Environmental Health and Asthma, contact Yalonda Sindé at (206) 720-0285. For more information on environmental justice tours, contact Holly at (206) 720-0285. Visit www.ccej.org to learn more!

Posted in the October 2006 Earth Page

Ever Wonder What Toxic Chemicals Might Be in Your Body?

- Submitted by Kristin Tremoulet of Earth Share organization Washington Toxics Coalition

The Pollution in People study released on May 23rd has the shocking results from ten Washington residents

Late last year, ten Washington residents agreed to testing of their hair, blood, and urine for the presence of toxic chemicals as part of an investigative study by the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition. We wanted to know what chemicals were getting into our bodies, and at what levels, to better understand the effects of regulation and oversight. The chemicals included: common pesticides such as carbaryl; plasticizers and fragrance carriers found in vinyl, toys, and personal care products; perfluorinated chemicals such as those used to make "Teflon" and stain-repellants found in some food packaging, carpeting, and clothing; toxic flame retardants found in electronics such as televisions, mattresses, and furniture; heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic; and even chemicals such as DDT and PCBs, which have been banned for decades.

Study results were released on May 23rd and they reveal that toxic chemicals have traveled to the worst possible destination: our bodies. Every person tested had at least 26 and as many as 39 of the toxic chemicals we looked for. Perfluorinated compounds, phthalates, PCBs, and mercury were detected in all participants. These chemicals turning up in people come from obvious sources such as food, but exposure to many of them also comes from everyday products such as cosmetics, vinyl, home electronics and furniture, packaging, pans, and even clothing. Product labels often don’t disclose the presence of these toxic chemicals and the retailers that sell them may not even know whether they contain the chemicals.

Even though the study participants expected that some chemicals would be found in their bodies, they were surprised at the numbers of chemicals and the levels of some toxics.

"To find out I have this load of toxic chemicals in my own body and know there isn’t really any way to keep them out is very disturbing," said Allyson Schrier, a children’s book author, and mother of two. Schrier added, "I have a son with learning disabilities and to think that exposure to toxic chemicals may have played a role in that makes me feel angry, sad, and helpless."

"I know on the one hand that there are toxins that persist, but I certainly wasn't obsessing about whether I had these toxins in there, but when I got the results, it was surprising." said Dr. Patricia Dawson, a breast-cancer surgeon at Swedish Medical Center.

Denis Hayes, president of the Bullitt Foundation and a founder of Earth Day, was found to have mercury above a level deemed safe by the EPA. Mercury has the potential for causing learning deficits. "My reaction was relief and alarm -- relief that I'm not planning on having more children and alarm that I'm likely to be buried in a toxic waste dump," said Hayes.

Results of the Pollution in People study are further evidence that we need new chemicals policies now. Most of the nearly 82,000 chemicals in use today are not tested for toxicity. Federal law does not require that chemicals pass basic health and safety testing and Washington state lacks the regulatory structure to prevent harmful chemicals from turning up in products, air, water, and people.

To learn more and get involved in chemicals policy reform, see the Pollution in People web site at ["www.pollutioninpeople.org":http://www.pollutioninpeople.org. The complete report is online, as well as tips for avoiding toxics and actions you can take to call for chemical policy reform. Speakers about the project are available, contact Margaret Shield at the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition, 206-632-1545 ext 123 or mshield@toxicfreelegacy.org to request a presentation for your organization.

Posted in the June 2006 Earth Page

NOAA Scientists Investigate Stormwater Link to Dying Salmon

- By KIRO 7 News Reporter Penny LeGate, also a Board member of ESW organization Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. First, the fish began to swim erratically. Then they lolled over on their sides, mouths agape. Hours later, the salmon were dead. People patrolling Longfellow Creek first noticed coho salmon dying off several years ago and sounded the alarm. NOAA Fisheries scientists arrived on the scene in 2002 and began the long and complicated task of tracking down the killer.

Longfellow Creek in West Seattle is one of several urban waterways that local citizens and government have fought hard to reclaim. Countless volunteer hours have been invested to rebuild the banks and riverbed. But the coho salmon introduced to this restored creek weren’t thriving. In fact, some years, up to 90% of the “spawners,�? as the fish are called when they head upstream to lay eggs, were dying prematurely.

Nat Scholz, a research zoologist and head of the Ecotoxicology Program for NOAA Fisheries, says a team of scientists from several different regional agencies began by exploring the obvious potential causes for such a die-off: 1) low oxygen levels 2) high water temperatures 3) infection, parasites, or disease. No evidence could be found to support any of these theories, he says. So, what else could it be? Four years later, Scholz says they still don’t know the precise cause. But through the process of elimination, researchers are reaching the conclusion that toxic stormwater run-off is the most likely culprit.

Stormwater runoff going into small urban streams such as Longfellow Creek typically contains trace amounts of heavy metals and hydrocarbons that come from cars, as well as low levels of common chemicals used in homes and lawns. But Scholz admits a clear conclusion is still difficult: is it one of these pollutants or the combination that kills fish? Are coho more vulnerable than other fish due to their biological makeup or because of the timing of their returns? Are salmon most susceptible to environmental pollution during spawning because of the stress of transitioning from salt water to fresh water? OR—is it a combination of ALL those possibilities?

Scholz says that no single chemical jumps out as a red flag, so more study is needed. But he also said that heavily urbanized creeks that flow near roads, streets and parking lots consistently see a higher rate of fish die-off than streams in remote areas. If a strong link can one day be made between toxic stormwater and fish kills, Scholz says it would certainly be helpful in predicting how urban growth could one day affect wild coho runs.

If polluted stormwater is the cause, he says it is not a matter of if, but when we will see those precious wild runs affected by development, so the race is on to get the hard facts. It could be the difference between a future world where streams run chock full of healthy coho, or a day when salmon become extinct. And while the scientists continue their work, we ordinary folks can also do our part. Restrict use of harmful chemicals and pesticides at home, drive less, wash cars only at a commercial car wash where the runoff is collected and treated, and be aware of how growth and development are affecting our dwindling wilderness. Together, hopefully, we can find the answer before it is too late.

Posted in the April 2006 Earth Page

New Columbia River water law will help fishing and farming communities

- Submitted by Amy Souers Kober from ESW organization American Rivers

Fishing and agricultural communities along the Columbia River will benefit from new legislation, recently signed into law by Governor Gregoire, that will improve water supplies while protecting river health.

The bill, which passed the legislature with overwhelming majorities in both chambers, was the product of negotiations among a group of diverse stakeholders, including American Rivers and the Washington Environmental Council.

The Columbia River is the iconic river of our state and was once the largest salmon producing river system in the world, with annual returns peaking at an estimated 10 to 16 million fish. But today, the health of the Columbia and the Snake, its largest tributary, has been compromised. Thirteen stocks of salmon and steelhead that rely on these rivers are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Dam building and water withdrawals are two of the most harmful impacts.

For years, the Columbia River has lacked an overall management plan to address the water needs of people for out-of-stream use, such as irrigation and municipal water supply, while at the same time keeping enough water in the river to protect fish, wildlife and water quality.

This new law meets that long-standing need by providing for a thoughtful approach to finding new water supplies. It requires a hard look at costs and benefits, and full consideration of alternatives to new storage, like conservation and market mechanisms, before any new storage facilities are constructed. The law is, on balance, a step in the right direction toward sound long-term water management.

American Rivers and WEC helped secure important protections for the Columbia and lower Snake rivers, including:

• Protection of existing stream flows in the Columbia and lower Snake during critical times of the year.
• Increased funding for conservation and other non-structural water supply alternatives.
• Development of a long-term water supply and demand forecast.
• Improved and publicly-available information on water rights and water use along the Columbia River.
• Requirement that a thorough need, alternatives, and cost analysis be conducted prior to constructing any new storage facilities.
• Permanent dedication of one-third of the water in any new storage facilities built to improve river flow.
• Water saved through publicly funded conservation projects will be placed in trust for stream flow protection.

While the new law goes a long way toward protecting flows in the Columbia and lower Snake, it does not address the major harm to salmon and steelhead caused by federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Significant changes in the operation of some dams and the removal of the four costly, outdated dams on the lower Snake, along with other habitat, hatchery and harvest improvements, will be needed to recover wild salmon and steelhead to healthy, fishable levels.

Rob Masonis, Northwest regional director for American Rivers, called the new Columbia River water law a good compromise.

"It is significant that diverse interests reached out across the cultural divide of the Cascade mountains to make this happen," he said. "We hope this success will be infectious and lead to a more constructive conversation about how to protect the rural communities and the rivers, fish and wildlife that make Washington such a special place to live."

To learn more about the new Columbia water law visit www.americanrivers.org/columbiawater

Posted in the March 2006 Earth Page

Focusing for 2006: Priorities for a Healthy Washington

- Submitted by Washington Environmental Council

By working together, the environmental community achieved major wins last spring in the 2005 Legislative Session. A coalition of Washington environmental groups helped pass legislation setting new, cleaner car emissions standards, and they helped establish the nation’s first green building law requiring new public construction to use sustainable materials and design concepts. Passing these bills wasn’t easy, but it was made possible by thousands of environmentally minded people across the state who came together to support these priorities by spreading the word, writing to their newspaper, and calling their legislators to demand change.

This year is no different. The environmental coalition has narrowed their agenda to just a handful of joint priorities for the 2006 legislative session. They’re organizing for energy security, a cleaner Puget Sound, electronics recycling and the elimination of toxic flame retardants. They are also united to defend our state’s land protections. Their shared goal is to have these priorities signed into law in 2006 to ensure that our health and the health of our environment and economy will be protected.

Priorities for a Healthy Washington - 2006

• Promote Energy Independence Through Renewable Fuels. “Biofuels�? – renewable fuels produced using plant materials – can dramatically improve our energy security and agricultural viability by reducing expenditures on imported petroleum and providing a major new market for Washington farm products. Biofuels reduce emissions of global warming pollution, which is a serious threat for our snow pack-dependent region. By replacing some of our gasoline and diesel fuel with renewable fuels, this legislation will increase our energy independence by powering our lives, our jobs and our economy with homegrown fuels.
• Launch Electronic Waste Recycling. Millions of unwanted computers, monitors and TVs are piling up in homes in Washington State, and there are relatively few options available for their safe recycling. These obsolete electronics turn into millions of pounds of “e-waste�? each year, which contains toxic chemicals that are hazardous to human health and the environment. This legislation will give people a simple, free and safe way of recycling their old computers and TVs, creating jobs, conserving valuable resources and protecting public health.
• Clean Up Puget Sound. Puget Sound is in trouble. The water is polluted, our Orcas are endangered, and dead zones have destroyed marine habitat. Unfortunately, a recent Puget Sound Action Team report on the state of the Sound found that the solutions underway and those proposed are not scaled, paced or funded to match the magnitude of the problems the Sound faces. In this first step of our two year priority, we are working to support the Governor’s Puget Sound Initiative and to promote funding for cleanups, water quality improvements and shoreline restoration.
• Protect Kids’ Health by Eliminating Toxic Flame Retardants. PBDEs are persistent toxic chemicals used as flame retardants in countless consumer products including televisions, computers, furniture, and carpet. Chemical cousins of PCBs, these toxic flame retardants are rapidly building up in our bodies, our food supply, and wildlife. Building upon the significant progress made on this issue in 2005, the coalition will work to pass a bill that bans PBDEs, particularly the most heavily used form called “deca�?.

In addition, the defensive priority is to protect our quality of life from efforts to roll back land protections. The Growth Management Act has helped maintain a high quality of life in Washington over the past 15 years even as we have faced dramatic population growth. Unfortunately, these land protections are at risk as irresponsible developers seek to exploit fallout from Oregon’s Measure 37, an attempt to discard land use protections. The environmental community is united to combat this effort by halting the rollback of land use protections, and finding solutions to legitimate problems that hamper effective growth management.

Washington State's environmental community is building bipartisan support for these essential priorities. The public overwhelmingly supports a new generation of protections for our air, land and water, and our elected leaders are starting to respond. Working together, we can create a model for the nation and true legacy for generations to come.

The organizations participating in Priorities for a Healthy Washington are:
American Rivers
Audubon Washington
Center for Environmental Law & Policy
Climate Solutions
Conservation Northwest
Futurewise
Heart of America Northwest
League of Women Voters of Washington
NW Energy Coalition
People for Puget Sound
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Sierra Club Cascade Chapter
Transportation Choices Coalition
Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation
Washington Conservation Voters
Washington Environmental Council
WashPIRG
Washington Toxics Coalition

You can learn more about the Priorities for a Healthy Washington by visiting http://www.environmentalpriorities.org/ or by attending the upcoming workshop – see upcoming events listed below.

Posted in the January 2006 Earth Page

In short supply: Responsible, Sustainable Water Management for the Northwest's Largest River

- Submitted by Shirley Nixon from ESW organization Center for Environmental Law & Policy

Those who receive tap water from public utilities are sometimes surprised to learn that the source of their water supply could be under stress. Washington’s water history - and indeed the philosophy prevalent when much of the west was being developed - was grounded in the illusion that fresh water resources would always be abundant. “Take whatever water you need! There’s plenty for everyone and everything! First come, first served!�? The “prior appropriation doctrine�? was, and still is, a fundamental principle of western water law. Unfortunately, however, the pressure of population growth is demonstrating that clean fresh water is an increasingly limited commodity. Many of Washington’s streams, rivers and aquifers are today over-appropriated and lack sufficient flows to meet the needs of people and of fish.

The Columbia River is a highly visible example of such over-use; it is also a “poster-child�? for what can go wrong when many diverse interests compete for domination of a scarce and valuable resource. Columbia Basin salmon stocks are in a state of perilous decline – with 12 species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Annual salmon and steelhead runs estimated to be as high as 16 million fish per year during the late 1800’s, have dropped by over 90%. Most fish returning to the Columbia today are hatchery bred; wild salmon are at an all time low. Impaired river flows - caused by too many diversions for out of stream uses (mostly for irrigation), combined with the unnatural conditions created by the many Columbia River dams - are a significant cause of this degradation.

In late 2004, following a long stakeholder-driven effort, former Governor Gary Locke unveiled proposed legislation and a draft Columbia River management rule. Neither of these proved to be politically feasible. Among other reasons, agricultural interests vehemently opposed the idea that all new water users should pay a nominal fee to offset state investments in Columbia River enhancements. The struggle over the river’s fate will undoubtedly continue into 2006. A special web-page is now devoted to this issue: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cwp/crtfhome.html

The Center for Environmental Law and Policy (CELP) for many years has played a significant role in efforts to move the state toward a more ecologically sound water management policy in the Columbia Basin. Staffed by specially trained public interest water lawyers and water policy researchers, CELP is viewed as the “go to�? group for technical information and policy advice on Columbia River issues. CELP has published a set of eight fundamental principles for shaping future Columbia River policy, and believes that these guiding principles also apply to managing water in all of our beautiful rivers. In short, CELP recommends that the state explore creative ways to improve conditions for fish while at the same time living within the existing water allocation budget (meaning: issuing no new water rights). CELP believes it is possible with everyone’s energy and commitment, to share and equitably allocate water resources and to achieve the goal embodied in CELP’s motto: Leaving a Legacy of Clean, Flowing Waters for Washington.

Read more about CELP and its vision for Washington’s water future at: www.celp.org

Posted in the January 2006 Earth Page

Victory for Children's Health!

Seattle School Board Adopts Strong Pesticide Reduction Policy

- By Angela Storey of Earth Share organization Washington Toxics Coalition

Last month, the Seattle School Board unanimously adopted a policy to protect students from exposure to hazardous pesticides at school. This is an important step for Seattle and a great model for other districts to follow in creating healthy environments in our schools.

�Seattle Public Schools takes our commitment to the health of our students, staff, and the planet very seriously,� said district Board President Dr. Brita Butler-Wall, who advocated for adoption of the policy. �We have embraced the concept of healthy learning environments through a strong policy preventing possible exposure to toxic chemicals such as pesticides.�

The policy is a result of years of work by dedicated school district employees, board members, community members, and Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) staff members. In fall 2004 the school board began a Community Advisory Committee, chaired by WTC, to review the existing policy and make recommendations for updates or changes. Groundskeepers, district management, union representatives, and teachers worked alongside parents, doctors, toxicologists, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) experts, and community groups to forge a proposal to the board that reflects the best policies, science, and practices available today.

�I think the success of the committee was due to a commitment to create an environment that improves the health of the students and staff by reducing unnecessary exposure to hazardous pesticides,� said Steve Gilbert, Seattle toxicologist and committee member.

WTC has worked for several years with the Seattle schools to help identify ways to reduce pesticide use and advocate for adoption of a strong policy. �Parent and community involvement in this process were essential in order to draft a policy reflecting concerns about children�s health and the environment,� said Angela Storey, Healthy Schools Coordinator for WTC and chair of the Seattle committee. �This policy sets a high standard for other districts to meet.�

The new policy and procedures include:

• Use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) at all school sites, with a focus on pest prevention and use of only least-toxic pesticides.
• A clear set of criteria for evaluating pesticides before their use in order to ensure that pesticides that can contribute to cancer, nervous system damage, reproductive harm, hormone disruption, or damage to the environment are not used. Exceptions to the criteria are evaluated for emergencies or persistent problems.
• A more thorough public notification and posting system when pesticides are used.
• Creation of an ongoing IPM committee consisting of district staff and community members to assist with implementation.

Seattle joins several other districts in Washington with strong pesticide-reduction policies, including the Vancouver, Bainbridge Island, and Sedro-Woolley districts. The policy will now go into effect at all of Seattle�s 100 sites.

WTC works with districts and communities around the state on reducing the use of hazardous pesticides. For more information about the Seattle policy or to work on pesticide reduction in your school or city, contact Angela Storey, astorey@watoxics.org or 206-632-1545 ext. 111.

Posted in the November 2005 Earth Page

Coalition Created to Bring Clean Marina Program to Washington State

- By Chris Wilke of ESW organization Puget Soundkeeper Alliance

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, a Seattle-based Earth Share organization, has embarked on a Clean Marina program, designed to reduce pollution from recreational boating in Washington State. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance is partnering with Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) and the EnviroStars Cooperative to implement this project. The Clean Marina program focuses on hazardous waste management, pollution prevention and environmental leadership within the marine industry and the greater community. The Clean Marina Washington program was formally announced on August 13, 2005 at a National Marina Day celebration at Elliott Bay Marina in Seattle. The event also honored Elliott Bay Marina�s 10-year history as an environmentally responsible marina.

A Clean Marina designation indicates that a marina is in compliance with environmental regulations, has voluntarily adopted additional environmental practices, and has passed an extensive certification inspection by a county hazardous waste investigator. In Washington, a Clean Marina certification indicates that the facility has also been certified as an EnviroStars business. The EnviroStars program, an incentive-based pollution prevention certification program administered by County governments, rewards businesses that take voluntary steps to reduce pollution, with particular focus on hazardous waste management and reduction. The EnviroStars Cooperative currently serves Jefferson, Whatcom, King Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Over 600 businesses of different types are currently certified as EnviroStars.

Boaters and marinas have the opportunity to reduce spills and other environmental impacts from boating and boat maintenance activities by instituting Best Management Practices (BMPs). Many marine-grade products are highly toxic to the environment and handling these products near the water requires special prevention measures, detailed in the BMPs. Marinas are motivated for the Clean Marina award in order to become better stewards of the waters, and by the prestige of being recognized as an environmentally responsible business. Washington will follow 21 other states that have Clean Marina programs in place.

�The Clean Marina program represents a 3-way partnership between the recreational boating industry, non-profit environmental advocates, and government, in order to safeguard our waters and shoreline environment. This is long overdue, I�m very excited.� Says Michael Campbell, president of Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA). The NMTA produces the Seattle Boat Show each January.

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance was instrumental in recent Clean Marina certifications of Stimson Marina, Bell Harbor Marina and Harbor Island Marina. The Alliance is spearheading a campaign to reach every marina in both King and Kitsap Counties and hopes to eventually expand the program statewide.

Posted in the September 2005 Earth Page

Pesticide Free Zone

By Philip Dickey, Washington Toxic Coalition Staff Scientist

Do you have a pesticide-free yard or garden? If so, the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) has a great deal for you! You can get a free, attractive metal yard sign to mark your landscape as pesticide free.

Over the past two years, Washington Toxics Coalition have been working with local businesses and individuals to distribute our Pesticide Free Zone signs, encouraging people who do not use toxic chemicals on their landscape to be proud of their efforts and post a sign, letting others know that their lawn is safe for children, pets, and beneficial insects. Landscapes that have posted the signs include Seattle University, Evergreen State College, the Good Shepherd Center, and thousands of individual homes.

So far, WTC has distributed over 2500 signs. Through a grant awarded to them by the Department of Ecology, they now have 1,000 free signs to give away. All Washington state residents are eligible to receive one of these free signs by taking a four-part pledge. The pledge asks that you:

• put up the sign in your yard;
• choose the least-toxic method to maintain your landscape (while trying your best to avoid using synthetic pesticides such as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides);
• talk about pesticide-free yard care to at least three other people; and
• respond to a brief follow-up questionnaire about six months after receiving your sign.

For those who live out of state, do not want to commit to the pledge, or would like more than one sign, WTC has regularly priced signs available for $7.50 each including shipping and Washington State sales tax. The eight-inch diameter aluminum signs are permanent and have two mounting holes that allow them to be attached to a stake, fence, or wall or hung from a wire. Some retail stores in the Seattle area are also selling the signs. The sign comes with three fact sheets: What�s Wrong with Using Pesticides?, Talking to your Neighbor about Pesticides, and the Pesticide Free Zone Sign Owners Manual. In addition, purchasers of the sign will receive a one-time discount on our popular Home Safe Home fact sheets.

One of the questions frequently asked is, �what does pesticide free mean?� Ideally, pesticide-free means that no chemical pest controls at all are used. However, WTC considers the use of organically certified materials and EPA-exempt pesticides to be compatible with their philosophy because they want to encourage manufacturers to develop safer products. Signs are distributed on the honor system. Nobody monitors what materials you use. If you feel that the sign accurately reflects your practices, you should display it. Should you have questions about the suitability of any products, please feel free to call the Toxics Coalition for more information at 206-632-1545.

To order a free sign, you can contact WTC by mail, telephone, or e-mail. Their address is Washington Toxics Coalition, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N, Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98103, telephone 206-632-1545, e-mail: info@watoxics.org. Or you can visit their website � www.watoxics.org

Posted in the September 2005 Earth Page

Citizens Monitoring of Columbia River Radiation

- submitted by Aaron Crowell of ESW organization Government Accountability Project

As the Columbia River winds its way through the high desert of eastern Washington, its life-giving waters flow by the largest environmental remediation site in North America - the Hanford Nuclear Waste Reservation. Citizens of the Pacific Northwest know that the Columbia is sacred lifeblood to our ecosystems and economies. And we know that the Hanford site, hosting tanks that have already leaked millions of gallons of radioactive, toxic liquids into the ground, is a lingering danger to this region. Our passion to protect the Columbia River for future generations was heard loud and clear last November when nearly 70% of Washington voters approved Initiative 297 - insisting that Hanford be cleaned up before any more waste is brought in.

Hanford has already affected the ecosystems of eastern Washington, however, and we must honestly and bravely face this legacy from the plutonium production era. Currently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) spends millions of dollars to monitor the extent of radioactive and heavy metal contamination around the Hanford site. Again and again, the public has been told that historical contamination is not very widespread and poses little risk. Thankfully though, monitoring and stewardship of the mid-Columbia region does not only emanate from the DOE budget - the citizens of Washington State have the power to improve the scientific accuracy regarding Hanford's legacy.

Several weeks ago, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) and Boston Chemical Data Corporation issued a report about radioactive contamination in public areas surrounding Hanford. The $50,000 study includes the first reports of plutonium ever found in clams and fish, a contaminant for which the DOE no longer tests. Additional findings include evidence that radiation levels in mulberry trees are higher than previously reported, strontium-90 has entered the ecosystem at higher levels than other reports have shown, and that contamination is much more geographically widespread than previously thought.

For example, an area of the Columbia River 20 miles upstream from the Hanford site contained high uranium readings. Possible explanations could include that the uranium comes from natural sources, from a source upstream of Hanford, or that contamination was either windblown or carried upriver by aquatic organisms. Recent court cases involving people who became sick with cancer after growing up downwind of Hanford have also set a precedent showing the site's widespread effect on the region.

Fortunately, relatively inexpensive citizen monitoring efforts such as the GAP study can effectively hold the Department of Energy accountable for better science. The GAP study indicates that the Hanford cleanup efforts by the DOE are based on science that is incomplete at best. In order for the DOE to provide justice to the people of the Columbia River region, federal environmental monitoring must fully and accurately reflect the degree of Hanford's contamination. When it comes to cleaning Hanford and protecting the Columbia River, the public and environmental watchdog organizations can continually lead the government in the direction of better science.

The GAP study and related articles can be found at www.whistleblower.org.

Posted in the July 2005 Earth Page

Big Wins for a Healthy Washington - A legislative wrap up

- By Tom Geiger from Earth Share organization Washington Environmental Council

For the third year in a row, leading conservation groups working at the state level have successfully advocated for new and improved laws to better protect people, land, air and water in Washington.

A new law to promote green building, as well as a law to clean our air by limiting auto emissions, will help people and nature breathe a little easier. Progress was also made on helping promote the health of Hood Canal and Puget Sound, and eliminate some very toxic chemicals from our household products.

The conservation community's development of four common-sense Priorities for a Healthy Washington for the 2005 session was crucial to this success. (To learn more, go to www.environmentalpriorities.org) Instead of going to the Capitol with a laundry list, the short list made a splash from the get-go. The Seattle P-I's editorial on December 27th called our proposals "a smart approach that should help lawmakers of both parties focus on a few areas where action can make a difference."

Now we are celebrating some great success. After lots of hard work by the conservation community, all our partners and key legislative supporters, the Seattle Times opined: "Give the environmental community credit as well. For the third session, asking for less has meant more success."

We are making progress and are being successful in getting real improvements to the laws that will help millions of people live healthier lives.

Here is a summary of what happened to each of the four 2005 Priorities for a Healthy Washington.

High Performance Green Buildings

On April 8th, Governor Gregoire signed this bill into law. The new law requires state buildings, schools, and universities to be built and certified as high performance, green buildings. This will result in buildings that save energy and water, are cheaper to operate, and improve student learning and employee performance.

Cleaner Air - Cleaner Cars

The Governor signed Cleaner Air - Cleaner Cars into law on May 6th. We'll all breathe easier with cleaner cars - that's a win worth smiling about! Cleaner Air - Cleaner Cars will reduce cancer-causing emissions and global warming pollution from new cars, increase consumer choice, and save consumers a bundle at the gas pump.

Sound Solutions - Saving Hood Canal and Puget Sound

While major bills did not pass, the conservation community secured over $6 million dollars for local clean water projects, including funds to clean up Hood Canal, and a grant and loan program to help homeowners fix failing septic systems. A bill to prioritize tax incentives for habitat buffers did pass. And a key bill that would reduce water pollution from septic systems passed the House but came two votes shy of going to the full Senate for a vote.

Phasing out Toxics

The Priority to phase out a particularly toxic set of flame-retarding chemicals failed to pass the legislature. However, the legislature did provide funding to the Department of Ecology to develop a plan for banning the most widely used form of toxic these chemicals. The department will report back to the legislature with recommendations in December.

Other Good News

Some other good bills that passed include: Oil Spill Prevention; improvements to the state's approach to transportation funding; a new program for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program; and programs to increase solar power, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Priorities for a Healthy Washington is a combined effort of Earth Share organizations American Rivers, Audubon Washington, Center for Environmental Law and Policy, Climate Solutions, Futurewise, NW Energy Coalition, People for Puget Sound, Sierra Club, Transportation Choices Coalition, Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation, Washington Environmental Council, and Washington Toxics Coalition and includes other non-Earth Share members League of Women Voters of Washington, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, Washington Conservation Voters, and WashPIRG.

Posted in the June 2005 Earth Page

Can You Say 'Phthalates'?

- By Heather Trim from Earth Share organization People for Puget Sound

Phthalates (pronounced "thal-ates") are industrial chemicals used to make plastics soft and as solvents in cosmetics and other products. Phthalates are found in common products like hair conditioners, hand lotion, perfume, car wax, cigarette butts, and in some tires, brake pads, and automotive belts. They are even in Styrofoam peanuts!

Phthalates pose a health risk, as they interfere with the development of reproductive organs. When fish ingest phthalates, these toxins can interfere with proper reproduction. More studies are needed to get the complete picture on human health effects.

Phthalates have been found in almost half of our nation's more than 1600 Superfund sites, the most toxic cleanup sites in the country. Locally scientists have found phthalates in the mud in the Duwamish River. Phthalates enter the river in stormwater and urban runoff, which flows from neighborhood streets and drains into the river. City of Seattle and King County scientists are trying to track down areas with the highest levels of phthalates in and around the Duwamish River Superfund site. The City of Tacoma is conducting similar studies for the drainages to the Commencement Bay Superfund site. Phthalates are hard to trace and are elusive because they occur in so many of everyday products that we use from cosmetics to car parts. Tacoma, Seattle and King County staff are testing products, such as car waxes, automobile fan belts, asphalt and sealants, and detergents to determine potential sources. Next steps include taking air samples from the Duwamish Basin.

In March 2005, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and People For Puget Sound initiated an outreach campaign to raise awareness about phthalates in our environment. In partnership with Project Wild, high school students are going door-to-door in targeted areas of the Duwamish watershed to educate residents about phthalates. They conduct informal surveys to find out what household and beauty products are used by residents and provide postcards for people to mail to manufacturers to inquire if their products contain phthalates and other toxic chemicals. Contact People For Puget Sound for postcards to send to the companies whose products you use and ask them about phthalates!

You can help keep phthalates out of Puget Sound!
Seven things you can do to prevent pollution in Puget Sound

1. Keep litter off your streets. Cigarette butts, plastics and Styrofoam often contain phthalates and other pollutants that may runoff to local waterways.
2. Use public transit when possible, or carpool or bike to reduce the impacts of cars, such as oily runoff from streets.
3. Avoid using products with phthalates. Check these phthalate-free products guides: Environmental Health Network (www.ehnca.org) and Health Care Without Harm (www.noharm.org or www.nottoopretty.org).
4. Properly dispose of household products such as paints and soaps. Do not put these products into city storm drains. For information on hazardous waste disposal, call your local county hazardous waste program or your city utility department.
5. Don't wash cars in the street where dirty soap and water can enter a storm drain; go to a professional car wash where the water is treated and recycled.
6. Keep your car maintained to reduce leaks that c