Earth Share of Washington - News

Stories of a Wildlife Rescue - "A Rare Gift"

by Naturalist Kevin Mack from Earth Share of Washington member PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, published in the February 25, 2004 edition of Wild Again

At dusk on February 19th, a large animal carrier with a closed door sat on an 85+ acre piece of property at the north end of Whidbey Island. The carrier was in a small clearing bordered by mixed forest, including marshy areas with abundant alders, and many tall fir trees. Inside the carrier sat a Barred Owl, looking out at the landscape before him, ...Read the full story

February 27, 2004 | Comments Off

Hanford Waste Cleanup May Have Human Price

RICHLAND, Wash. -- Steve Lewis became a seething malcontent after a visit to the doctor who presides over the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

Lewis, an electrician, had been exposed to a blast of ammonia vapor from Hanford's underground "tank farms." Down on these farms during the Cold War, as federal workers churned out plutonium for the U.S. nuclear arsenal, they buried the largest haul of high-level nuclear waste in the Western Hemisphere. Lewis is part of another generation of Hanford workers that for more than a decade has been mopping up the festering mess.

His vapor expo...Read the full story

February 26, 2004 | Comments Off

Seattle Mayor Nickels Releases 2004 Environmental Action Agenda

SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today released his 2004 Environmental Action Agenda with a focus on restoring the city's forests, environmentally-friendly development and growing "green" jobs and businesses.

"We're lucky to live in such a beautiful place, and we have a responsibility to protect this legacy for future generations," said Nickels. "We're making sure the City does its part."

Highlights of the Mayor's 2004 Environmental Action Agenda include:

• Increasing restoration of forests in the city and stepping up removal of ivy and other invasive plants;
• ...Read the full story
  February 25, 2004 | Comments Off

Toxic Flame Retardants Found in Puget Sound Women

SEATTLE--Today, Northwest Environment Watch (NEW), in partnership with Washington Toxics Coalition [an Earth Share of Washington member], released a report on levels of toxic flame retardants (PBDEs) found in the bodies of Puget Sound mothers. The analysis is the first set of results from a larger NEW study on body burdens in northwesterners and comes at a critical time, as the legislature is currently debating whether to fund a state program to phase out these toxic flame retardants and other persistent toxic chemicals. Here is an excerpt from the study:

The bodies of Puge...Read the full story

February 24, 2004 | Comments Off

Rainwater Causes Sewage Dumping Into Puget Sound

A good-sized storm can send upwards of 400 million gallons of sewage and filthy drainage water gurgling into the West Point Water Treatment Plant at Discovery Park. But there's a catch: The plant can handle only 300 million gallons a day.

So plant operators route the excess around the slowest part of the treatment process. The result: In these rainy days of winter, more than 100 million gallons of partially treated water can get dumped into Puget Sound in a single day.

At issue is a practice known as "blending," usually implemented when it's raining hard and lots of extra wa...Read the full story

February 19, 2004 | Comments Off

Earth Saving Tips - Can Solar Energy Fit Your Budget?

Courtesy of ESW member, Union of Concerned Scientists

If you ever considered installing solar collectors on your house but chose not to follow through because the costs sounded prohibitive, it might be time to reconsider.

Solar power is one of the most environmentally benign energy sources available. Just 20 days of sunshine produces the same amount of energy as everything stored in Earth's reserves of oil, coal, and natural gas--yet does not come close to producing the same amount of ...Read the full story

February 18, 2004 | Comments Off

Global warming hitting Northwest hard, researchers warn

To find the most compelling evidence to date that global warming could shrink damp Cascade snows by half in coming decades, Seattle scientists first took a step back in time.

They picked through a half-century of snow data from Arizona to British Columbia to better grasp how an atmospheric stew of greenhouse gases may shape our region for years to come.

Their conclusion: Their earlier warnings about future water shortages in the Northwest were more accurate - perhaps even understated.

"If you think the water fights we have now are intense... you ain't seen nothing ye...Read the full story

February 17, 2004 | Comments Off

Stories of a Wildlife Rescue - "Special Delivery"

by Naturalist Kevin Mack from Earth Share of Washington member PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, published in the February 11, 2004 edition of Wild Again

On January 13th, the PAWS Wildlife Center received a special delivery from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). All that could be seen of the "delivery" when she first arrived was her frightened face as she peered out from behind the bars of her transport carrier. The four-plus hour car ride likely seemed an eternity to this fuzzy year...Read the full story

February 11, 2004 | Comments Off

Gov. Locke Unveils Plan to Save Polluted Hood Canal

OLYMPIA -- Faced with the prospect of seemingly pristine Hood Canal becoming a "dead sea," state and federal officials vowed yesterday to spend millions to save it from pollution that's suffocating fish, octopuses and eels.

Gov. Gary Locke and U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., announced an ambitious recovery plan for the 60-mile-long fjord that will include federal, state, local, tribal and volunteer efforts.

"We've got to get on top of this problem," said Brad Ack, chairman of the Puget Sound Action Team. "It really has the potential to kill the ecosystem in parts of Hood Cana...Read the full story

February 10, 2004 | Comments Off

National Parks Pay Off Big for WA State's Economy

- by Tom Bouchard from ESW member National Parks Conservation Association

Visitors to 10 of Washington's national parks sites generate more than $204.5 million annually for the state's economy. According to data collected by researchers at Michigan State University, national parks like Olympic, Mount Rainier, and San Juan National Historic Park supported more than 5,300 jobs and generated more than $87 million in wages, salaries, and payroll benefits. Some seven million annual park visitors bring impressive levels of tourism dollars to gateway community hotels, restaurants,...Read the full story

February 9, 2004 | Comments Off

Renewable Energy Bill Moving Through State Congress

Statewide policy would bring jobs, investment to the state

OLYMPIA -- A landmark bill that promises to create thousands of jobs, revitalize rural communities and deliver long-term benefits to energy consumers and the environment advanced from the House Technology, Telecommunications and Energy Committee Wednesday night.

Substitute HB 2333 would establish Washington's first statewide policy on developing energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. It directs electric utilities to do long-range planning and include increasing amounts of new renewables and ...Read the full story

February 6, 2004 | Comments Off

Green Tips - Recycle Your Batteries

This Green Tip was contributed by Northwest Product Stewardship Council

Rechargeable Batteries, particularly those containing heavy metal metals such as cadmium, are toxic and should not be disposed in landfills or incinerators. If managed improperly, toxic constituents from rechargeable batteries can be released into the environment causing damaging health effects. Reducing the amount of batteries in the waste stream alleviates this problem.

In 1994, the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) was formed a...Read the full story

February 5, 2004 | Comments Off

Parametrix Pledges Their Support for the Environment

Earth Share of Washington today announced receipt of a gift from Sumner-based Parametrix, Inc., an employee-owned firm specializing in engineering, planning and environmental sciences.

Dwight Miller, Principal of the Kirkland Office, said, "Our company has, among its core values, compassion for our communities which we extend through stewardship, volunteerism, and corporate giving. We believe Earth Share of Washington, which represents leading conservation groups, is a fitting recipient of this gift."

Parametrix also conducts an Earth...Read the full story

February 3, 2004 | Comments Off