Department of Ecology

Sediment health declining in central Puget Sound

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Scientists examining the health of Puget Sound have uncovered a new mystery involving the very bottom of the food chain.

A new study from the state Department of Ecology shows toxins in sediments have declined over the past decade. But it also found declining health of the creatures that live in the sediment.

How much fish is healthy? Wash. tribes push for updated standard

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:41:07 +0000

How much fish should you eat? The state Department of Health recommends two meals of fish a week. But the Department of Ecology assumes people eat far less, about the equivalent of one meal per month.

That’s because it uses those assumptions to calculate how much water pollution can be legally allowed in Washington—pollution that ends up in the fish we eat.

Seattle, King County to spend $1.5 billion on wastewater upgrades

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:35:09 +0000

The city of Seattle and King County will spend $1.46 billion on upgrades to public sewer systems aimed at reducing the amount of polluted water entering the Puget Sound and other waterways, according to a federal settlement filed under the Clean Water Act.

Under the agreement, the city and county will also pay $750,000 in fines for dumping raw sewage into the Sound and several lakes.

Lower Duwamish Waterway plan open for public comment

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:09:35 +0000

Seattle’s Duwamish River was once a meandering estuary in the heart of the city. A century ago, it was transformed into an industrial waterway and used as a dumping ground for decades.

Now it’s a Superfund site – and the Environmental Protection Agency has released a plan to clean it up.

Sinking incident points to state’s struggle with derelict vessels

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:02:53 +0000

Two derelict vessels are sinking in a bankrupt marina near Tacoma. Fire fighters have circled them with oil booms to contain any pollutants.

The incident is the latest in a series of stories that show the link between ecological health and the economy.

The two boats in question were chained together when one of them, the Helena Star, began to sink. The other, the Golden West, was listing badly when coast guard and firefighters got to the scene.

Washington beaches mostly safe, but 3 get failing grades

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:09:20 +0000

Thinking of heading for the beach this weekend? You’re mostly safe.

Climate change could cost Wash. $10 billion a year; state crafting response

Bellamy Pailthorp — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:20:58 +0000

Climate change is happening, and not preparing for it could cost the state $10 billion a year by 2020.

That’s according to the Department of Ecology, which has just released a response strategy to changing climate conditions.

Tougher rules for oil spill prevention - hearings underway

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:44:41 +0000

Washington State already has some of the highest oil spill readiness standards in the country – if not in the world.

An update to those regulations is raising that bar even higher.

The tightening is in response to the catastrophic BP oil spill nearly two years ago in the Gulf of Mexico.

The new law places new requirements on oil companies operating in Puget Sound or on the Columbia River.

What's the best way to dispose of a Christmas tree?

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:33:33 +0000

Statewide, recycling for Washington State has reached the highest rates ever. The biggest areas in which people are doing more are in reusing construction materials and composting food waste…and then there are those pesky Christmas trees.

Recycling rates have grown to 49% statewide – higher than ever. It’s an increase of 14% more than the prior year.

But even though we’ve all become great at composting, many people still aren’t sure how to dispose of their Christmas trees.

Federal ruling could force state to work harder to regulate oil refineries

Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:42:23 +0000

A big ruling in a federal suit brought against the state aims to force more regulation of one of the biggest sources of air pollution: oil refineries.

Rule to ban cruise ship discharge in Washington sanctuary

The Associated Press — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:48:37 +0000

Cruise ships will be prohibited from discharging wastewater into a protected marine sanctuary off the outer coast of Washington state's Olympic Peninsula under new rules taking effect next week.

Enviros say new stormwater guidelines too lax

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:40:36 +0000

It’s the single largest source of pollution entering Puget Sound – rain that hits pavement and carries grease, metals and other toxins into the water.

The Department of Ecology has just issued new rules that aim to keep stormwater runoff in check. However, several environmental groups complain the new rules are full of loopholes.

Demand that Duwamish River be cleaned up enough to eat the fish

Bellamy Pailthorp — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:30:09 +0000

There’s a major milestone this week in the cleanup of Seattle’s Duwamish River. Excavators are removing toxic sludge from one of the most polluted spots in the city’s industrial core. Completion of this work will allow cleanup on the rest of the river.

But critics say there are already signs it won’t go far enough.

Work begins on Slip 4 'hotspot' in Duwamish River

Bellamy Pailthorp — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:15:04 +0000

It’s one of the most polluted waterways in all of the Pacific Northwest. The lower five miles of Seattle’s Duwamish River were listed as a Superfund site a decade ago. This week, cleanup work has begun on one of its most toxic sections.

Enviro groups say Clean Water Act is under attack

Bellamy Pailthorp — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 01:02:55 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-982833.mp3

Nearly 40 years ago, the U.S. government began setting federal standards to clean up water pollution with the passage of the landmark Clean Water Act. Now, many environmental groups say that law is under attack and they’re worried about consequences.