Earth Share of Washington - News

Study: Salmon from farms breed sea lice

WASHINGTON — Salmon farms help stock supermarkets but also breed parasitic sea lice that infect young wild salmon and could endanger other important ocean species such as herring, scientists said Tuesday.

Even a single farm can have far-reaching effects, Canadian researchers Martin Krkosek, Mark Lewis and John Volpe found. The study adds fuel to the clamor over farmed versus wild salmon, a debate that extends along Pacific Northwest coastlines.

“We know that the lice do infect other species,” said Krkosek, a University of Alberta m...Read the full story

March 30, 2005 | Comments Off

Industrial pollution on the rise

Statewide figures from 2003 show 3 percent increase over 2002

Reported releases of toxic chemicals by the state’s major industries and manufacturers climbed about 3 percent in 2003 over 2002 figures, according to the state Department of Ecology.

For 2003, about 20.5 million pounds of toxic chemicals were spewed into the land, air and water, compared with 19.9 million pounds in 2002.

The TransAlta coal mine and coal-fired power plant near Centralia had the highest volume of chemical releases at 5.5 million pounds.

Ecology officials said ...Read the full story

March 29, 2005 | Comments Off

Priorities for a Healthy Washington Legislative Update

For the third consecutive year, the environmental community developed and put forward four legislative priorities. This year’s effort is again beginning to bear fruit and progress through the many hurdles of the legislative process.   The cut-off date for bills to have passed out of the House (for a House bill) or Senate (for a Senate bill) has come and gone. And still three out of four Priorities for a Healthy Washington proposals are moving along toward becoming law.

High Performance Green Building
(HB 1272) has passed out of House on a strong bi-parti...Read the full story

March 28, 2005 | Comments Off

A New Plan for Sea Otters

by Eric de Place of Northwest Environment Watch, originally published in the Cascadia Scorecard Weblog.

In all the Northwest’s varied bestiary, probably no creature is such a crowd-pleaser, has the plain old cuteness, of sea otters. Their faces are expressive and eager, their rollicking behavior is adorable. They are what biologists call “charismatic megafauna”—large and often cute animals that attract public attention...Read the full story

March 25, 2005 | Comments Off

REPORT: Home is Where the Harm Is

Chemical Culprits Found in Common Household Products: Groups Call for State Ban on Toxic Flame Retardants

When we purchase a product, whether it’s a computer, a carpet or a shower curtain, we assume it is safe for ourselves and our families. But a new report shows we’re not as safe as we think we are. A national study released today found thirty-five hazardous industrial chemicals, including the controversial flame retardant deca-PBDE, in household dust samples taken from seventy households in seven states, including ten homes in Washington.

The ...Read the full story

March 24, 2005 | Comments Off

Pacific Northwest Salmon in Hot Water

Most Threatened Pacific Northwest Rivers At Risk from Global Warming

Seattle, WA (March 23) – By 2040 more than 20 percent of the Pacific Northwest’s rivers could become too warm for salmon, steelhead and trout if global warming is left unchecked, an analysis released today by the National Wildlife Federation shows.

Research conducted for the National Wildlife Federation by University of Washington scientists indicates that higher regional temperatures could also change the timing and volume of rain and snow coming from nearby glaciers and mountains, affect...Read the full story

March 24, 2005 | Comments Off

Low Snowpack Opens Trails Early, but Hikers Must Heed Warnings of Early-season Dangers

SEATTLE – Cabin fever is striking Washington hikers a little early this year.

Last spring hikers were consumed with impacts from a devastating series of floods in the Cascades high country. Now one year later, the weather is on many people’s minds, and this time it’s the lack of snow.

Extremely low snowpack and unseasonably warm temperatures have opened up many trails that would not ordinarily be hikeable until May or June. A quick perusal of the hiking trip reports on the website of Washington Trails Association reveals a contagious buzz among hike...Read the full story

March 22, 2005 | Comments Off

Biodiesel enthusiasts revved up about alternative fuel's future

The distinctive rattle of diesel engines filled a parking lot outside a Seattle neighborhood center yesterday, but the exhaust smelled more like popcorn than the usual smoky stench.

Boosters of such sweet-smelling — some would say odorless — rigs filled the basement of the community center at Phinney Ridge for the third annual Northwest Biodiesel Forum. More than 300 people showed up to learn about and spread the virtues of vegetable oil as fuel.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made primarily from vegetable or animal oils. In the United States, the most common source is soybea...Read the full story

March 21, 2005 | Comments Off

Earth Saving Tips - "The Dangers of Modern Art"

Some art supplies contain ingredients that are harmful to both humans and the environment. These include naturally occurring heavy metals such as lead, cobalt, cadmium, and manganese, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as turpentine, xylene, acetone, and toluene. So, how can you express yourself creatively while protecting the environment?

Know what you’re buying. Art supplies that can cause chronic health problems must be labeled according to federal guidelines. In addition, the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) has developed two supplemental labels to help guide ...Read the full story

March 18, 2005 | Comments Off

Alaskan Oil: Fool's Gold

Continuing a three decade old argument over drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), the US Senate appears likely to make another important vote on the subject in the next 48 hours, according to US Senator John Kerry.

This issue is of interest to Cascadians because Alaska is the main source of Oregon and Washington’s oil. (British Columbia runs on Albertan oil; Idaho and western Montana burn fuel from Billings, Montana.) Drilling proponents argue on the grounds of national security, but Alaskan oil is actually...Read the full story

March 16, 2005 | Comments Off

EPA rules to cut mercury pollution fall short

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday ordered power plants to cut mercury pollution from smokestacks by nearly half within 15 years but left an out for the worst polluters.

The EPA said the cuts would help protect pregnant women, women of childbearing age and young children from a toxic metal that causes nerve damage. Critics said the arrangement fell far short of what was needed, and they promised to fight it.

“The United States is the first nation to take a leadership role in addres...Read the full story

March 16, 2005 | Comments Off

Lucrative tax breaks afoot for solar energy

Soggy Western Washington may not seem like a hotspot for solar energy, but that cloudy image isn’t keeping state lawmakers from pursuing legislation that would provide a powerful boost to the solar energy industry.

The Senate is considering two bills that would offer aggressive incentives to manufacturers and consumers of renewable energy. One bill, SB 5111, would provide tax breaks for solar energy system manufacturers, with additional incentives for those who build facilities in rural counties. A second bill, SB 5101, would help create a market for those products by essentia...Read the full story

March 15, 2005 | Comments Off

Heads Up - The Proposed "Takings" Initiative

This state’s environmental train is in danger of being derailed.  We in this state are seeing some long overdue environmental bills moving through the legislature since we were smart enough to go all blue last fall.  However, there is a proposed initiative, 906, that has been submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State that will take all our thinking and effort to fight off.  It is what is known as a “takings” initiative. 

Oregon passed such a measure by means of the initiative process last November ...Read the full story

March 14, 2005 | Comments Off

School Donation Program Gives Outdated Computer Equipment a Second Life

TACOMA, Wash. (March 11, 2005) – In 1997, the average lifespan of a computer was four to six years. Today, with rapidly advancing technology, industry experts say the average lifespan of a new PC is just two years.

The National Safety Council estimates that more 315 million computers became obsolete in the United States at the close of 2004.

For organizations like the Port of Tacoma, this poses a dilemma: Residing in the mainstream of international business requires cutting edge technology, but “Who wants to throw away a machine that still wo...Read the full story

March 14, 2005 | Comments Off

Stories of a Wildlife Rescue - "Eyes in the Back of His Head"

by Naturalist Kevin Mack from Earth Share of Washington organization PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, published in the March 9, 2005 edition of Wild Again

On February 3rd, I was standing in the PAWS Wildlife Center exam room looking down into a cardboard box. A moment earlier, I had opened the box to find a six-inch tall bird facing away from me. The bird’s gray-brown plumage was speckled with tiny white spots, and white bars accented his dar...Read the full story

March 09, 2005 | Comments Off

Green investment expert Steve Lippman talks to Grist

Questions from Grist editors

Q: What work do you do?

A: I’m the senior analyst on the Social Research and Advocacy team at Trillium Asset Management, a Boston-based investment management company dedicated solely to socially responsible investing.

The biggest part of my job is actively engaging with companies we hold to encourage them to improve their social and environmental performance. So for instance, we played a role in convincing PepsiCo to establish its first strategic plan on water conservation and ste...Read the full story

March 08, 2005 | Comments Off

Drought could be declared in days

Federal officials to meet with Gregoire on coping with lack of snow, rain

With temperatures remaining stubbornly high and snowfall uncommonly low, state and federal officials are likely to declare a drought emergency for Washington as early as next week, intensifying concerns that this summer could spawn serious wildfires and financial misery for farmers.

Gov. Christine Gregoire is scheduled to meet with federal officials early next week to review snow and weather data, clearing the way for a decision by Thursday, a state official said.

But from what...Read the full story

March 07, 2005 | Comments Off

Conservation International charts biodiversity hotspots

Nine new biodiversity hotspots are added to list of high priority conservation targets

Earth Share organization Conservation International (CI) has added nine new regions to its list of biodiversity hotspots, raising the number of highest priority conservation targets from 25 to 34. What are these hotspots, and why has CI increased their number?

In recent decades, much of the natural world has been under assault on an unprecedented scale. Mighty rivers are being reduced to a trickle by ill-conceived dam projects. Animals are trapped, killed, and exported liv...Read the full story

March 04, 2005 | Comments Off

Top 10 reasons to invest in our National Park system

Earth Share organization National Parks Conservation Organization recently launched a campaign to spur reinvestment in our National Parks — Faded Glory, Top 10 reasons to reinvest in America’s National Parks heritage.

Did you know an annual shortfall in excess of $600 million is affecting the condition of park visitor centers, trails, and restrooms?

The national icons protected within the national park system are in trouble. These sites b...Read the full story

March 03, 2005 | Comments Off

Picture the World a Better Place

Yahoo! Photos and Earth Share Team Up to Raise Awareness of Environmental Issues

Taking photographs of our surroundings is one of the most revealing art forms. Whether meticulously crafted or snapped hastily to preserve a moment in time, photos reflect how we view the world in all its beauty, sadness and vastness.

In celebration of Earth Day 2005, Yahoo! Photos and Earth Share are holding a national photo event to celebrate how we each see the Earth, while raising awareness of environmental issues worldwide. Beginning on March 10, 2005, you can submit photo...Read the full story

March 02, 2005 | Comments Off

Snowpack status nearing critical

Time is running out for the Northwest’s snowpack.

After one of the driest Februarys on record, accumulations of mountain snow have dropped even further below normal across much of Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

That snow is a vital natural reservoir for the streams and rivers that supply irrigation and drinking water, produce electricity at hydropower dams — and sustain wild salmon journeying to sea.

Last month brought one-fifth to one-third the average rain and snowfall to most river basins in Oregon. For Portland, it was the fourth-driest February on rec...Read the full story

March 01, 2005 | Comments Off