Earth Share of Washington - News

Federal Environmental Legislation - In the news

Energy bill with no Arctic Refuge provisions nears passage

WASHINGTON -- A major national energy bill, with construction programs and power subsidies in Alaska, cleared a House-Senate negotiating committee Tuesday and is almost ready for final passage in Congress.

The bill has been in the works for more than four years, since President Bush first took office. It includes financial incentives for oil drilling in Alaska and elsewhere in the country, provides risk insurance for nuclear power plants, sets efficiency standards for batter...Read the full story

July 28, 2005 | Comments Off

PAWS Wild Again - "Thanks for Five Great Years"

By Naturalist Kevin Mack from Earth Share organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, published in the July 27, 2005 edition of Wild Again

In the past 5 years as PAWS naturalist, I have overseen the release of several thousand animals. None of these releases would have been possible without the hard work and dedication of countless volunteers, and dozens of interns, externs, and staff members. The wildlife center is a large, and complex place, an...Read the full story

July 27, 2005 | Comments Off

Trust for Public Land Protects Badger Mountain

TRI-CITIES, WA, 6/23/05 - This afternoon the Tri-Cities' community will celebrate the successful effort to raise the funds needed to purchase 574 acres on the crest and slopes of Badger Mountain. Governor Gregoire and local dignitaries will participate in the public celebration at 4 pm at the Bookwalter Winery.

The land purchase effort is a joint project of the Friends of Badger Mountain (FOBM) and The Trust for Public Land (TPL). FOBM, a local organization sponsored by the Inter-Mountain Alpine Club and t...Read the full story

July 25, 2005 | Comments Off

Dozens of Chemicals Found in Most Americans' Bodies

The concentration is especially high in children, a national study says. But experts aren't sure what the health effects are.

In the largest study of chemical exposure ever conducted on human beings, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that most American children and adults were carrying in their bodies dozens of pesticides and toxic compounds used in consumer products, many of them linked to potential health threats.

The report documented bigger doses in children than in adults of many chemicals, ...Read the full story

July 22, 2005 | Comments Off

Seattle schools' drinking water still fails lead test

Results show 60% of Seattle district's new fountains fall short

Recent tests show that about 60 percent of new drinking fountains in Seattle's public schools -- installed to reduce the levels of contaminants in water -- have themselves failed to meet the district's standard for lead contamination, raising the possibility that more extensive repairs may be needed.

The district replaced 250 school drinking fountains over the past few months, after systemwide water tests last year found that about one-quarter of fountains overall had elevated levels of lead.Read the full story

July 20, 2005 | Comments Off

Crackdown urged on mercury waste from dentistry

Voluntary state drive is branded a failure

King County dentists have taken the lead statewide in reducing toxic mercury going down the drain and out into the environment.

Now a coalition of environmental groups, labeling a voluntary state program to cut dental mercury waste a failure, wants a statewide crackdown.

The voluntary two-year agreement, in which the Washington State Dental Association promised to urge its members to control mercury waste, comes to an end July 31. In exchange, the state Department of Ecology agreed to hold off on enforcing t...Read the full story

July 19, 2005 | Comments Off

Five Summer Reading Picks From Environmental Defense Staff Members

Summer vacation season is in full swing - need a good read for your beach bag? Check out 5 reviews from Environmental Defense staff and scientists about books that inspired, enlightened and entertained them.

Desert Solitaire
by Edward Abbey
Review by Dr. James Wang, climate scientist
"This wonderfully entertaining novel packs a strong environmental message. Edward Abbey masterfully depicts the Southwest's stark beauty -- from the smallest wildflowers to the largest rock arches. Interludes of whitewater rafting down the Colorado, snow-fiel...Read the full story

July 18, 2005 | Comments Off

Gregoire announces new focus on Puget Sound's health

Citing years of studies and plans that have failed to turn the tide of environmental decline in Puget Sound, Gov. Christine Gregoire is launching what she calls a "bold and aggressive" effort to rescue the region's signature body of water.

Last week Gregoire's lieutenants and others began hammering out a plan to ramp up the rescue. Significantly, the Democratic governor has tapped Republican and two-time U.S. Environmental Protection Agency head William Ruckelshaus of Seattle to spearhead the campaign.

Working with the region's congressional represe...Read the full story

July 18, 2005 | Comments Off

Summer Break

Our editor here at Earth Share is heading out of town on vacation for the next two weeks. Alas, new environmental news stories, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events will return on Monday, July 18.

Happy July 4 from the Earth Share staff, get out and enjoy the sunshine!

July 1, 2005 | Comments Off