Environmental Watch

Waste Action Project sues Holnam

SEATTLE -- Cement manufacturer Holnam Inc. has been hit with a motion for contempt for allegedly violating water-quality standards for pH and turbidity.

The motion was filed May 22 in federal district court by Waste Action Project (WAP), a Seattle-based environmental organization known for bringing citizen lawsuits against businesses that violate their environmental permits.

WAP first sued Holnam in 1995 for ongoing violations of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Storm water carried cement kiln dust and other particulates off the plant's site, which is located at 5400 W. Marginal Way S.W. at the mouth of the Duwamish River.

Such dust and particulates have high pH levels and cause gill abrasions in fish.

To resolve the lawsuit without going to trial, Holnam entered into a consent decree requiring the West Seattle plant to be in full compliance with its NPDES permit as of July 31, 1996.

WAP Executive Director Greg Wingard says Holnam's discharge-monitoring reports since that time reveal that Holnam has continued to violate its NPDES permit.

"They have some substantial problems that they have not done enough to fix," Wingard said. "The bottom line is that they have now been out of compliance for eight months (since July 31, 1996)."

Judge Carolyn Dimmick is scheduled to hear the contempt motion June 6. WAP is asking for penalties in excess of $300,000 for Holnam's alleged consent-decree violations.

Holnam's attorney was traveling Monday and could not be reached for comment.

Holnam is owned by Holderbank of Switzerland. Its U.S. headquarters are in Michigan. Holnam purchased the West Seattle plant from Ideal Basic Industries in 1990. Because of major acquisitions throughout the United States, Holnam is the largest manufacturer of cement in the country.

AWB Environmental Conference

SEATAC -- The sixth annual Association of Washington Business Environmental Conference for Business is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Thursday at the SeaTac Marriott Hotel.

The conference will feature a compliance update in the morning and a water-policy forum in the afternoon.

Morning sessions will focus on water-quality permits, enforcement issues, air-quality regulations, brownfield cleanups and recent changes to the state's Model Toxics Control Act.

The water-policy forum from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. will address water-rights issues, total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), effluent trading, nonpoint-source controls, watershed planning, storm-water management and the proposed listing of salmon and trout species in Washington under the Endangered Species Act.

The keynote speaker at the awards luncheon will be Tom Fitzsimmons, director of the Department of Ecology. Scott Hazelgrove of the AWB will give a legislative update during the luncheon.

Other speakers include: Sen. Gary Chandler, R-Moses Lake; Kay Gabriel of U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton's office; AWB President Don Brunell; Dan Ballbach and Kristie Hendricksonfn9> of of Landau Associates Inc.; several attorneys from Preston Gates & Ellis; and regulators from the Department of Ecology and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Cost is $75 for the morning session, $75 for the afternoon session, or $125 for the full day. To register by phone, call (800) 521-9325.

Grant joins Kleinfelder

Paul Grant

Grant is a professional engineer with more than 25 years experience in earthquake engineering. He has developed earthquake criteria for the design of new buildings and for the evaluation of existing buildings. Grant also has experience evaluating ground stability, including landslide and liquefaction potential.

Kleinfelder is a national geotechnical, environmental, water resources, risk assessment, toxicology and construction consulting firm based in Walnut Creek, Calif. Kleinfelder has 800 employees in 40 offices around the United States and overseas.

Western Regional Hazardous Waste Conference

SPOKANE -- The first-ever Western Regional Hazardous Waste Conference for Household and Small Business Programs is scheduled for June 26-27 in Spokane.

The theme of the conference is "Building Partnerships for a Sustainable Future." The conference is for people from businesses and government agencies who are working on hazardous-waste programs throughout the Western United States and Canada.

The keynote speaker will be Alan Thein Durning, founder of the Seattle-based research center Northwest Environment Watch. Durning will speak on the global aspects of sustainability.

A special HAZWOPER refresher training course will be offered June 25 in conjunction with the conference. The course will be tailored to the needs of people who work with household-hazardous-waste and small-quantity-generator programs.

For more information on the conference or the HAZWOPER course, call Suzanne Tarr at (509) 962-7577 or (509) 962-7698.

'Orcas in the Balance' workshops

SEATTLE -- People for Puget Sound is sponsoring two community workshops in Seattle and Bellingham on the health of Puget Sound's orca whales.

The workshops will focus on the orcas' relationship to food chains, water quality, habitats and human activities of the Northwest Straits. Orca whale experts will speak at both workshops, which will meet at the following times and locations:

• 7 to 9 p.m. June 10, University of Washington, Kane Hall, Seattle.

• 7 to 9 p.m. June 24, Fairhaven Library, Bellingham.

For more information, call People for Puget Sound at (206) 382-7007 or (800) PEOPLE-2.

Environmental Watch

Feds plan to slash energy bills

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected five contractors to finance, design and install renewable-energy and energy-efficiency projects at federal facilities in eight Western states, including Washington.

The projects are part of the DOE's new nationwide program, FREE Savings (Financing for Renewable Energy and Efficiency), which is designed to reduce the federal government's energy use by 30 percent by 2005.

The following contractors will be eligible to compete for the federal projects in the Western United States:

• The Bentley Co., an energy, engineering and management firm based in Walnut Creek, Calif.;
• Energy Pacific of San Diego, a joint venture of Enova Corp. and Pacific Enterprises;
• ERI Services of Bridgeport, Conn.;
• Honeywell of Minneapolis, and
• Johnson Controls Inc. of Walnut Creek.

Bentley, Honeywell and Johnson Controls all have offices in the Puget Sound area. Bentley teamed with Puget Sound Energy of Bellevue and MacDonald-Miller Co. of Seattle to compete for the award.

Under a shared-savings contracting mechanism, the contractors will be paid out of the actual energy savings they deliver, which means the projects will be done at no cost to the government.

The federal government will pay a maximum of $750 million for all five contractors' services. Doug Chamberlin, manager of technical services for Bentley, said this should result in an "even split," with each contractor earning approximately $150 million.

MTCA Reform: What does it mean?

SEATTLE -- "MTCA Reform -- What Does It Mean?" is the theme of a panel discussion scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Washington Athletic Club, 1325 Sixth Ave., Seattle.

The discussion will explain the significant changes made to the state's Model Toxics Control Act during the 1997 legislative session. Speakers will include: Jerry Smedes, president of Smedes & Associates and governmental relations chairman for the Washington Environmental Industry Association; Paul Agid, an environmental management specialist for the Port of Seattle who deals with MTCA-related issues at Sea-Tac International Airport; Richard Wright, general manager of environmental services for Time Oil Co., which operates terminals-for-hire and gas stations in five Western states; and Scott Missall, a partner with the Seattle law firm Short Cressman & Burgess and legal counsel for the Puget Sound Chapter of the Professional Environmental Marketing Association.

The panel discussion will take place during the monthly luncheon of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Cost is $25 for SMPS, WEIA or PEMA members and $35 for non-members. To register, call Debbie Behrens at (425) 774-0106.

Landau announces promotion, addition

EDMONDS -- Landau Associates Inc. has announced the promotion of Brad Severtson to project engineer and the addition of Art Benedict as a senior engineer.

Severtson specializes in the development and implementation of models to evaluate groundwater flow, well hydraulics, contaminant fate and transport, subsurface investigations and environmental remediation.

Benedict has more than 25 years experience in environmental and civil engineering. His professional experience includes municipal wastewater management, water supply, solids-disposal technology, industrial- and hazardous-waste management and groundwater-contamination studies.

Landau Associates is an environmental and geotechnical engineering consulting firm with headquarters in Edmonds and offices and Tacoma and Spokane.

Boomsnub to repair groundwater system

VANCOUVER -- The Department of Ecology is giving the Boomsnub Corp. until the end of June to repair an underground vault designed to protect groundwater below its chrome-plating plant in Vancouver.

The underground vault is a backup to the plant's main system for collecting spills from the plating tanks. Built by Benting Construction, the vault is designed to provide a watertight seal between the plating plant and the groundwater. Ecology inspectors say they believe the vault has been breached and groundwater can seep into it.

"Chromic acid and other chemicals are not leaving the plant," said Megan White, manager of Ecology's hazardous waste and toxics reduction program. "The steps Ecology will require the company to take are to prevent problems from happening in the future."

Boomsnub opened its plant at 3611 N.E. 68th St. in August 1994 after groundwater was contaminated at the company's former location on Northeast 47th Avenue. That former location is now a Superfund site.

Kinsella a 'national leader' at SCS

BELLEVUE -- John Kinsella, vice president and ISO 14000 lead auditor for SCS Engineers in Bellevue, now has a new job title at SCS: national leader for environmental management system (EMS) services.

Kinsella has spearheaded SCS Engineers' efforts to develop a niche in the ISO 14000 and EMS markets. He has worked on ISO 14000 projects with the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Department of Energy at Hanford and many private Northwest companies.

Kinsella also has developed a series of ISO 14000 training seminars that are held six times a year throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The next one, an auditor training course, is scheduled for June 9-13 in Portland. For information, call Kris Baldyga at (206) 746-4600.

Sustainable energy conference in B.C.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- "Implementing Sustainable Energy in a Changing World," a conference on sustainable-energy systems, is scheduled for June 5-7 at University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

The conference will identify ways that sustainable energy can become a mainstream reality in Canada in the 21st century. Keynote speakers will include Dr. Mark Jaccard of the B.C. Task Force on Electricity Market Reform and Christopher Flavin of Worldwatch Institute. The conference also will feature a trade show and tours of local renewable-energy sites.

To register, contact: SESCI Conference '97, c/o SESCI, Suite 702 -116 Lisgar St., Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0C2, Canada, (613) 234-4151.

For more information, visit the following Web site: http://www.newenergy.org/newenergy/sesci_97.html

Ecology awards grants, loans to communities

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has awarded grants and loans to local governments for the following projects:

• A $360,000 low-interest loan to the city of Leavenworth to design an upgrade to the city's wastewater treatment plant, which discharges water to the Wenatchee River. After design is completed, the city may apply for more grants or loans for construction of the project, which would begin in 1998 or 1999. For information, call Jim Milton at Ecology at (509) 575-2434.

• A $190,390 grant to the city of Federal Way to provide recycling for apartment complexes and condos, purchase compost bins and provide educational programs. Call Allen Robbins at (360) 407-6074.

• A $100,800 grant to Skagit County to purchase recycling equipment. Call Allen Robbins at (360) 407-6074.

• A $49,706 grant to the city of Renton for waste-reduction, recycling and educational programs. Call Allen Robbins at (360) 407-6074.

• A $30,059 to the city of SeaTac to expand the city's recycling drop-box program, buy composting bins for city residents and provide educational programs. Call Diane Christel at (360) 407-6062.

Environmental Watch

RCI Environmental wins Navy contract

SUMNER -- The U.S. Navy division stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii has announced the pending award of its "Various Sites -- State of Hawaii Remedial Action Contract" to Sumner-based RCI Environmental Inc. (RCIE). The maximum contract price is estimated at $15 million.

Work will include underground storage tank disclosures, new tank installations, and management, transport and disposal of solvents, petroleum, metals, acids, PCBs, pesticides and low-level radiological materials from various Navy sites in Hawaii.

Established in 1993, RCIE-Hawaii is a hazardous waste remediation, construction and general contracting firm with both public- and private-sector clients.

RCIE-Hawaii is a division of the Robison Construction Group. Robison Construction Group currently consists of RCI Inc., RCI Environmental Inc., RCI Environmental-Hawaii, RCI Civil & Industrial Inc. and Pacific Thermal Services-Hawaii.

PTI announces new staff members

BELLEVUE -- PTI Environmental Services has announced the addition of three new staff members at PTI's Bellevue office:

Dr. D. Frederick Bodishbaugh has joined PTI as an ecotoxicologist. Bodishbaugh is a biochemical and aquatic toxicologist with eight years experience in aquatic toxicology research, chemical and site assessment and ecological risk assessment.

Jenee Colton has joined PTI as an ecologist. Colton has six years experience analyzing water-pollution effects, investigating mitigation techniques and conducting water-quality assessments. She has conducted terrestrial ecological studies of termites in Belize and juvenile ostriches in Kenya.

Coreen Johnson-Dean has joined PTI as publications manager. She will be responsible for coordinating publication activities and providing quality control on technical documents, proposals, internal reports and correspondence.

PTI also has announced the establishment of a new Atlanta office and the addition of J. David Dean as principal. Dean will work in the Atlanta office.

In other news, The Failure Group Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif. yesterday announced the completion of its acquisition of PTI Environmental Services.

PTI generated net revenues of $11.5 million in 1996. The Failure Group purchased PTI for $7.5 million in cash plus 480,000 shares of common stock.

Failure Analysis Associates, a subsidiary of The Failure Group, analyzes the engineering and scientific failures behind high-profile disasters. PTI specializes in ecological and human health risk assessment, water quality assessment, sediment transport and toxicology. The environmental science and engineering firm has offices in Bellevue, Boulder, Portland, Metro-Washington, D.C., Boston, Milwaukee and now Atlanta.

Constructed wetlands and stormwater quality

SEATTLE -- On June 10 and 11, the University of Washington will offer a course on the use of constructed wetlands for improving stormwater quality.

Studies conducted over the past 20 years reveal that natural wetlands are capable of removing pollutants from contaminated waste streams. However, because they are such valuable resources, natural wetlands cannot be used to treat waste.

This has led to an interest in constructing new wetlands for the purpose of managing wastewater. Such constructed wetlands are designed to serve as a type of detention pond and as a type of biofilter.

The two-day course will focus on the planning and operating of constructed wetland projects in a watershed context. The course will conclude with a half-day field trip to wetlands recently constructed for stormwater treatment. The instructor will be Dr. Richard R. Horner, an environmental engineering and science researcher and consultant with 31 years of experience.

The course fee is $315 before May 27 and $345 after May 27. To register by phone or receive more information, call (206) 543-5539.

How successful are efforts to protect Sound?

TUKWILA -- The Puget Sound Council will meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the protection of water quality and habitat in Puget Sound.

Council members are expected to consider and approve a process for tracking the progress of state and local governments carrying out the 1997-99 Puget Sound Water Quality Work Plan.

According to the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, the 1997-99 state budget for the work plan should allow local, state and federal government agencies to make significant headway on the most critical issues facing the Sound. In addition to approving the funding necessary to carry out activities called for in the work plan, lawmakers earmarked an additional $2.6 million to pay for new and expanded projects to enhance the health of Puget Sound.

At Wednesday's meeting, Council members also will review ways to measure the success of protection efforts over time, the value of education and community involvement and the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program.

The Puget Sound Council will meet at the Tukwila Community Center at 12424 42nd Ave. S. For more information, call (360) 407-7300.

Ecology issues grants for cleanup work

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has issued grants to the Port of Vancouver and the city of Okanogan for soil and groundwater cleanup projects.

The Port of Vancouver will use its $499,250 grant to clean up a 15-acre site where Fort Vancouver Plywood operated a plywood mill for many years until it went out of business in 1996. Soils and groundwater on the site are contaminated. The grant will cover part of the costs of investigating the site, preparing cleanup plans, demolishing buildings that contain asbestos and lead, and disposing of the building materials and other waste materials.

The city of Okanogan will use its $235,761 grant for cleanup work at the Legion Field airport, where soils are contaminated with chemicals from a cropduster business. The grant money will reimburse the city for some of the costs it has incurred studying the site and cleaning up contaminated soil. The results of the study will determine what must be done to clean up the site permanently.

For information on these projects, call Steve Loftness at Ecology at (360) 407-6060.

Environmental Watch

Wildlife-related recreation garners big bucks

PORTLAND -- A total of $96.9 billion was spent on hunting, fishing, bird-watching and other wildlife-related recreation in the United States in 1996, according to a survey conducted every five years by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

That dollar amount represents a more than 59 percent increase in expenditures since 1991, when the Fish and Wildlife Service last conducted its "National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Related Recreation." According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the $96.9 billion accounts for about 1.3 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.

"Our fish and wildlife are not just a priceless treasure we hand down from one generation to another," said Acting Service Director John Rogers. "They are the source of jobs and growth for both the national and the local economy from coast to coast."

The U.S. Census Bureau conducted the survey for the Fish and Wildlife Service. The survey indicated that the number of anglers, hunters, bird-watchers and wildlife photographers has decreased since 1991, but their expenditures have increased substantially.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will release a final national report in November. State-by-state reports will be released from November 1997 through March 1998.

'The New MTCA' conference set

SEATTLE -- Tom Fitzsimmons, director of the Department of Ecology, will be the keynote speaker at "The New MTCA: Cleaning Up Contaminated Sites in Washington," a conference scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 30 at The Mountaineers, 300 Third Ave. W., Seattle.

The conference is designed for environmental and land-use attorneys, environmental consultants, local and state government officials, Department of Ecology staff, public port officials, environmentalists and anyone who owns, operates, buys or sells contaminated properties.

Speakers will explain how contaminated sites can be cleaned up faster, better and at less cost. Statutory, regulatory and policy changes brought about as a result of the Model Toxics Control Act Policy Advisory Committee's recommendations will be explained.

The University of Washington School of Law is offering the conference. The registration fee is $200. For information, call (800) CLE-UNIV or (206) 543-0059.

SIRTI offers grants for sustainable projects

SPOKANE -- The Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute (SIRTI) is offering "innovation grants" for up to three projects that involve environmental or sustainable agricultural technologies.

A technology development and commercialization institute, SIRTI is affiliated with six Washington colleges and universities. Grant money is available for projects that result in products that can be commercialized and sold within two years of the start of the project. The projects must create jobs in the greater Spokane area. For Western Washington environmental firms, this could require an expansion into the Spokane area.

Total funds of up to $100,000 are available for a period of no more than two years.

SIRTI released its request for proposals April 28. "Notices of intent" to propose will be accepted until June 10. Full proposals are due Aug. 1, and awards will be announced Sept. 10.

For information on how to apply, contact Anthony J. Lentz, Ph.D., Associate Director, Spokane Intercollegiate Research & Technology Institute, 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd., Fourth Floor, Spokane, WA 99202-1665, (509) 358-2000.

Jones & Stokes offers NEPA course

BELLEVUE -- The Bellevue office of Jones & Stokes Associates will offer a two-day seminar on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures and compliance May 21 and 22.

The seminar is designed for environmental professionals, regulators, attorneys and others who work closely with NEPA. The course will be taught by attorneys Ronald Bass and Albert Herson, authors of the Jones & Stokes book Mastering NEPA: A Step by Step Approach.

The seminar will provide an overview of NEPA, as well as a panel discussion on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Washington Department of Transportation mitigation agreement and its role in NEPA.

Fees are $99 per day or $149 for both days. The fee will include a copy of the book. To register, call Robin McDaniel at (425) 822-1077.

Waste reduction and recycling awards

OLYMPIA -- The Department of Ecology presented its annual Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards to winners in eight different categories last week.

The following winners were presented with plaques made of recycled materials:

o McChord Air Force Base, Best Federal Facility Program, for its 57 percent recycling rate.

o King County Department of Natural Resources, Best Large Government Program, for its waste reduction and recycling programs.

o Lewis County Solid Waste Utility, Best Small Government Program, for getting more than 90 percent of the county's population to recycle in areas where recycling is not mandatory.

o Hewlett-Packard's Vancouver site, Best Large Business Program, for a diversion rate of more than 77 percent that resulted in waste-disposal savings of more than $300,000 in 1996.

o Circuits Engineering Inc. in Renton, Best Small Business Program, for its recycling rate of 50 percent to 60 percent and its water conservation rate of more than 150,000 gallons a month.

o A tie between The Green Zone exhibit at the Spokane Interstate Fair and the Bellevue Neighbors for Recycling program for the Best Public Information and Education Program.

o Build a Better Kitsap, Most Innovative Program, for this program of Kitsap County Public Works and the Kitsap Home Builders' Association that produces a handbook of "green" building principles.

o Stevens County Solid Waste Services, Special Recognition Award, for increasing the county's recycling rate and working with a local asphalt company to develop a market for colored glass.

Ecology awards grants to local communities

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has issued grants to the following cities and counties:

o A $591,985 grant to King County for completion of a waste-characterization study and preparation of an environmental impact statement for revisions to the county's solid waste management plan. For information, call Diane Christel at Ecology at (360) 407-6062.

o An $833,060 grant to the city of Tacoma for public education efforts and the purchase of recycling equipment and paint-bulking equipment for its household hazardous waste program. Call Patricia Dice at (360) 407-6053.

o A $62,018 grant to the city of Port Angeles for educating Clallam County residents about waste prevention and recycling. Call Patricia Dice at (360) 407-6053.

o A $19,709 grant to the city of Tukwila for waste reduction and recycling activities. Call Diane Christel at (360) 407-6062.

o A $16,799 grant to the city of Monroe for a yard-waste collection and recycling project in the communities of Snohomish, Monroe, Lake Stevens and Sultan. Call Allen Robbins at (360) 407-6074.

Environmental Watch

Omega files for bankruptcy protection

BOTHELL -- Omega Environmental, a company that specializes in cleaning up underground gasoline storage tanks, has filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors.

In a statement Friday, Omega said its tangible assets exceed its liabilities by more than $20 million, but it was filing the petition to ensure adequate cash flow. The company is negotiating with lenders to obtain new financing.

Louis Tedesco, president and chief executive officer, said the company will shortly cease all construction-related business, financial services and non-essential sales activities in the United States.

"Nevertheless, this filing is intended to preserve and enhance the company's continuing businesses, many of which are sound, and to ensure that these continuing operations which fit our growth strategy are adequately funded," Tedesco said. "We believe the company will emerge from this process a leaner, stronger entity."

Omega's management told its 76 workers in Seattle to file for unemployment insurance, several employees told The Seattle Times.

An official at the company said he had been instructed not to comment on any possible layoffs.

Omega lost $21 million on sales of $151 million for the 1996 fiscal year, which ended March 31.

The company's stock slipped last year form about $3 a share to around 75 cents, and is no longer listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Omega has more than 1,000 employees in the United States and Mexico. The company installs and removes underground storage tanks and also builds and repairs fueling systems for oil companies.

Groundbreaking ceremony at Umatilla Depot

HERMISTON, Ore. -- Brisk winds failed to disrupt groundbreaking ceremonies Thursday for the $1.3 billion incinerator to destroy deadly nerve gas stockpiled at the Army's Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot.

The 58-acre incinerator site is beside the depot's heavily guarded "K" block, where 11.6 percent of the nation's chemical weapons are stored in partially buried concrete igloos.

Environmentalists claim the potential for accidents and toxic emissions from the stacks make incineration unsafe. The Oregon Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and a Hermiston-based group called GASP successfully petitioned the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to reconsider its decision to issue a permit for the burners.

A hearing is set for June 6.

United Coating wins EPA Evergreen Award

SPOKANE -- United Paint and Coating of Spokane is the third Northwest company to earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Evergreen Award for corporate environmental excellence.

The award was presented last week at the eighth annual Environmental Forum for Business in Spokane.

United Paint and Coating manufactures and supplies paints and coatings for roofing, industrial and architectural uses. Since 1993, the company's efforts to reduce solid and hazardous wastes, air emissions and water discharges have resulted in significant pollution reductions, including a reduction in the use of hazardous raw materials by 40,000 pounds, thereby saving the company approximately $45,000 a year in disposal costs.

United Paint and Coating completely eliminated the use of hazardous products containing 1,1,1-trichloroethane, lead and asbestos. The company also replaced solvent-based products with water-based products wherever possible.

"United Paint and Coating has shown how environmental protection and a thriving business can go hand in hand," Chuck Clarke, EPA regional administrator in Seattle, said in a release.

Past Northwest recipients of the Evergreen Award are the Fluke Corp. in Everett and Wacker Siltronic Corp. in Oregon. The nomination deadline for the next round of awards is Oct. 31.

Weston wins $3.2 million Hanford contract

RICHLAND -- Roy F. Weston Inc. has been awarded a $3.2 million contract to excavate and remove radioactive materials at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

Weston was pre-qualified to bid on the project and won the contract by submitting the lowest bid. Weston officials say the contract is a milestone in the company's long-term strategy to become a major player in the U.S. Department of Energy's $5 billion cleanup efforts at Hanford.

Under the two-and-a-half-year contract awarded by DOE contractor Bechtel Hanford Inc., Weston will provide all personnel, equipment and materials to excavate and remove radioactive soil and debris within a 117-acre parcel at Hanford's 300 Area. Weston will transfer the material to an on-site landfill and restore all excavations.

Based in West Chester, Pa., Weston provides consulting, engineering and design, environmental construction and facilities and business outsourcing. Weston has 60 offices around the world, including an office in Seattle.

EPA plans workshop on toxic releases

SEATTLE -- EPA Region 10 is planning a workshop on toxic release inventory reporting May 21-23 at the Red Lion Hotel, 18740 Pacific Highway S., Seattle.

The workshop will provide comprehensive instruction for businesses that must complete EPA Form R -- The Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Reporting Form under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. Section 313 requires companies to submit annual reports on the toxic chemicals they release to the air, water and land.

The annual report for the 1996 calendar year is due July 1. Businesses that fail to file reports may be subject to civil penalties up to $25,000 a day.

The course will meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first two days and 8 a.m. to noon on the final day. To register, call (301) 907-3844, Ext. 260.

Ecology awards grants to local communities

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has awarded grants to the following counties for waste management projects:

o A $104,689 grant to Garfield County for a coordinated program of waste management projects. The county will use the grant to develop a public information and education campaign, continue its Master Composter Program and build recycling drop-box stations. For information, call Dan Koroma at Ecology at (509) 456-2947.

o A $165,975 grant to Stevens County for a coordinated program of waste management projects. The county will use the grant to buy recycling drop boxes for area schools and the cities of Kettle Falls, Northport, Chewelah and Colville. The county also will educate adults and schoolchildren about waste reduction and recycling. For information, call Mike Drumright at Ecology at (360) 407-6059.

Information in Environment Watch comes from DJC staff and wire services.

Environmental Watch

Erosion woes hit Golf Club at Newcastle

NEWCASTLE -- Scott Oki, the developer who stuck his neck out to transform a 350-acre brownfield site into a tournament-quality golf course, recently had a little run-in of his own with the state Department of Ecology.

The Golf Club at Newcastle began causing water-quality violations last October when heavy rains washed muddy water off the site and into Coal Creek. The city of Newcastle issued a stop-work order to Oki Developments, and Ecology called for immediate action to control the way stormwater runs off the site.

Since October, all work at the site has been related to erosion control. Contractor Sellen Construction Co. cleaned and modified temporary holding ponds above the slopes, installed new filter fences and placed straw bales, absorbent matting and piping around the site.

Ecology says Sellen's work has been effective. Now golf course owners have entered into a cooperative agreement with Ecology that requires them to monitor stormwater regularly and make automatic payments of $2,000 each day stormwater runoff exceeds allowable discharge limits. Since October, owners have paid $12,000 to Ecology.

"This agreement allows us to monitor their progress this spring and encourages them to stay on top of the problem," said John Glynn, Ecology's regional manager for water quality. "Signing on to this stringent agreement is a clear indication of their good faith."

Bob Kirshenbaum, director of sales and marketing for the Golf Club at Newcastle, said the erosion-control setback hasn't severely impacted the construction schedule for the project.

"It may have pushed us back a little bit, but you don't really do grading work in the winter, anyway," Kirshenbaum said. "We're ready to start rolling again."

He said the north golf course should open to the public in spring 1998, the club house should open in summer 1998 and the south golf course should open in fall 1998 or spring 1999.

In years past, the site was used as a coal mine and later as a landfill for construction debris. Oki Developments is spending more than $2 million on environmental cleanup so the golf course development can move forward.

Eagle Harbor cleanup moves forward

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND -- A number of potentially-responsible parties (PRPs) have entered into a formal agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding future cleanup work at the 500-acre Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor Superfund site on Bainbridge Island.

An agreement between the EPA, Paccar Inc., the Department of Defense and other federal PRPs was entered in U.S. District Court Friday.

Under the agreement, Paccar will undertake and pay for cleanup of contaminated sediments in the western portion of Eagle Harbor. The Department of Defense and other federal PRPs will provide $4.8 million toward the cleanup of sediments in the eastern portion of Eagle Harbor.

Scheduled to begin this spring, Paccar's West Harbor cleanup will involve containing sources of contamination and cleaning up sediments through dredging and capping.

Paccar will work closely with the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) because the West Harbor area is used by Washington State Ferries for ferry maintenance. The ferry-maintenance facility served as a private shipyard for the first half of the 1900s. West Harbor sediments contain mercury, copper and lead "hot spots" from the shipyard operation.

West Harbor and East Harbor sediments also contain creosote and other chemicals from more than 80 years of wood treating done by the former Wyckoff Co.

Another PRP for the Superfund cleanup is the state of Washington. The EPA is still negotiating a separate agreement that will require the state to provide funding toward the East Harbor cleanup, long-term monitoring and habitat mitigation for the West Harbor, and clean sediments for use as capping materials. WSDOT already started construction of a salt marsh estuary on Bainbridge Island this January for habitat mitigation.

Overall cleanup costs for the Wyckoff/Eagle Harbor site could reach $60 million to $75 million.

Recycling conference and trade show set

WENATCHEE -- The Washington State Recycling Association will have its 17th annual conference and trade show May 4-7 at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

The theme for this year's conference is "Recycling Roundup: Tying It All Together." The conference is designed for recycling professionals, consultants, solid waste and public works officials and representatives from waste-hauling and transportation companies. Topics to be addressed in conference sessions include:

• Glass & Plastics -- Is It Worth It?
• True Confessions of Rural Recyclers
• Compost Facility Survival Tactics, and
• Residential Waste Prevention -- Let's Cut the Crap.

The event also will include a trade show with more than 300 exhibitors, a black tie banquet and awards ceremony, and optional activities such as a rafting trip, a golf scramble, a Western barbecue and a cruise on Lake Chelan.

To register or receive more information, call the WSRA office at (206) 244-0311.

Landau Associates has nine new owners

EDMONDS -- Landau Associates Inc. has announced the addition of nine new owners: Dan Ballbach, Brian Butler, Leslee Conner, Paul Ford, Carla Goroski, Kristy Hendrickson, John Leder, Jerry Ninteman and Eric Weber.

Ballbach and Larry Beard also have joined Hank Landau, William Enkeboll and Dennis Stettler on the firm's newly-elected board of directors.

Landau Associates is an environmental and geotechnical engineering consulting firm headquartered in Edmonds with offices in Tacoma and Spokane. Hank Landau, the founder of the company, is president and chief executive officer. Ballbach left his position as a partner at the law firm of Perkins Coie last summer to become Landau's chief operating officer.

Public hearing on Shell refinery permit

ANACORTES -- The completion of a draft wastewater discharge permit for the Shell Anacortes Refining Co. has caused such a stir that the Department of Ecology will have a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Anacortes City Council Chambers at Sixth Street and Q Avenue.

Located on West March Point Road in Anacortes, the Shell Refinery discharges treated wastewater into Fidalgo Bay. Environmentalists from groups such as People for Puget Sound, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Ocean Advocates say they're outraged because Shell's new permit will allow the refinery to discharge more chemical pollutants than in the past. They also say Shell should not be allowed to meet water-quality standards through dilution.

"Before any increases are granted, Shell must show they have used all available methods to control their releases of pollution," said Puget Soundkeeper BJ Cummings.

Shell's permit is the first of five major National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits scheduled to be issued to oil refineries this year.

For more information on Wednesday's hearing, call Arlene Army at the Department of Ecology at (360) 407-6930.

Environmental Watch

Snoqualmie Valley Hospital want to log SNOQUALMIE -- Snoqualmie Valley Hospital wants to log some trees on its 47-acre property to raise money to offset its growing debt.

Hospital administrator Carol Johnson said four acres of trees would be selectively cut and sold as routine property maintenance. Some of the large, second-growth cedars and Douglas fir were hazardously close to the hospital's clinic building, she said.

The logging is expected to bring about $150,000 to the hospital. That would offset a small part of the facility's growing debt of about $200,000 a month.

"Maybe one month we won't have any losses," Johnson said.

The hospital has a permit for the logging for the state Department of Natural Resources. It now has to obtain a clearing and grading permit from the city of Snoqualmie.

Ecology awards grants to local communities

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology recently awarded grants to the Port of Olympia and the cities of Everett and Issaquah for cleanup work and expansion of waste-reduction and recycling programs.

The Port of Olympia's $724,445 grant will go toward cleaning up the site where Cascade Pole operated a wood-treating plant for many years. The soils, groundwater, marine sediments and organisms at the site are contaminated with creosote, pentachlorophenol, petroleum hydrocarbons, dioxins and furans. For information, call Steve Loftness at Ecology at (360) 407-6060.

Everett will use its $81,300 grant to expand its business recycling program and increase residential recycling at apartments and condominiums. The money also will support the city's home-composting program and other recycling projects. For information, call Allen Robbins at Ecology at (360) 407-6074.

Issaquah will use its $12,447 grant to start a Model Family Program for waste reduction and recycling. The program will work with selected families for one year to help them reduce their garbage volume by as much as 75 percent. The city will then publish a how-to booklet and offer public workshops to share lessons learned from the program. For information, call Diane Christel at Ecology at (360) 407-6062.

Hydraulic fluid spills into Columbia River

HOOD RIVER, Ore. -- The U.S. Coast Guard reported 480 gallons of hydraulic fluid spilled into the Columbia River from a cruise ship.

No injuries to wildlife were reported. Coast Guard Lt. Chris Curatilo said the fluid was too dispersed in the river for any of it to be recovered.

The spill occurred when a hydraulic system seal gave way at 8:50 p.m. Sunday aboard the "Queen of the West" sternwheeler. The vessel was about 10 miles east of Hood River at the time.

The vessel dropped anchor and waited for a tow into the port at Hood River. The 137 passengers on board all returned safely to shore.

Water law conference to focus on water rights

SEATTLE -- The sixth annual conference on "Water Law: The Confluence of Water Rights and Water Quality" is scheduled for May 1 and 2 at Seattle Center.

The conference will explore recent court cases, hearings, water legislation and board decisions that affect anyone involved with water issues in Washington state.

Tom Fitzsimmons, the new director of the Department of Ecology, will give a special luncheon address May 1 on "Water Quality and Growth Management: A Framework for the Next Century."

Law Seminars International is sponsoring the conference. Cost is $495 a person, or $445 each for two or more people from the same firm or agency. Tuition includes course materials, coffee breaks and lunch on May 1. To register or receive more information, call (206) 621-1938 or (800) 854-8009.

Conference on environmental education set

STANWOOD -- The Environmental Education Association of Washington will have its seventh annual conference May 16-18 at the Warm Beach Conference Center in Stanwood.

The theme of this year's conference is "Opening Windows of Opportunity." The conference is designed to help educators promote excellence in environmental education.

Dr. Robert Pyle, a Washington naturalist and a world authority on butterflies, will speak on "Nature Study and the Extinction of Experience." Anne Camozzi, president of the Toronto environmental consulting firm Ecologic & Associates, will speak on "The Role of Education in the New Economy."

The conference also will include environmental education awards, an auction, exhibits, field trips and live musical performances.

For more information, call Susan Alotrico of the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency at (206) 689-4040, or Wendy Scherrer of the North Cascades Institute at (360) 856-5700, Ext. 211. To receive a registration packet, send your name and address to: EEAW, P.O. Box 4122, Bellingham, WA 98227.

Officials to speak on air pollution control

SEATTLE -- Two officials from the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency (PSAPCA) will speak on "Air Pollution in the Puget Sound Region: Past, Present and Future" at 7 p.m. April 30 at the new REI store in Seattle.

The speakers will be Jim Nolan, PSAPCA's director of compliance, and Dave Kircher, PSAPCA's manager of engineering. They will allow time for discussion with members of the audience.

REI is at 222 Yale Ave. N., between Thomas and John streets. For more information, call Art Davidson at (206) 865-9386.

Environmental Information Center at WSU

VANCOUVER -- One of the region's largest collections of environmental information has been moved to the library of Washington State University at Vancouver.

The Environmental Information Center moved its collection of information services to make the information more accessible and to allow the collection to be merged with the university library system. WSU will catalog the books, videotapes, journals and curriculum materials that make up the collection.

The Environmental Information Center is a cooperative effort between the city of Vancouver, Clark County, Clark Public Utilities, the Southwest Air Pollution Control Authority and the WSU Cooperative Extension. EIC materials are available for checkout from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. on weekends.

Information in Environment Watch comes from DJC staff and wire services.

Environmental Watch

Reports focus on Clean Water Act violations

OLYMPIA -- Thanks to the persistence of Puget Soundkeeper BJ Cummings, a new Department of Ecology publication is available that outlines violators of water quality permits in Washington state from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996.

Cummings of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, a Seattle-based environmental watchdog group, made a Freedom of Information Act request for such a document after she noticed Ecology's regional offices did not keep track of discharge-limit violations in a consistent way.

"Each of their offices had to get on the same data system," Cummings said. "Otherwise, it was impossible to draw any statewide conclusions."

Cummings recently used the data in the new Ecology publication along with the Environmental Protection Agency's criteria for "significant noncompliance" to compile a report called "Clean Water Act Permit Violations in Puget Sound." Among other things, the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance report reveals that from July 1995 to June 1996:

• 70 percent of Puget Sound facilities violated their discharge permits;
• 25 percent were in serious, chronic violation of the Clean Water Act;
• 84 Puget Sound facilities were found to be in significant noncompliance according to EPA standards;
• 27 percent of chronic polluters in Puget Sound violated their effluent limits for toxic pollutants at least twice in six months;
• 60 percent of chronic polluters in Puget Sound violated their permits at least four times in six months;
• and less than 10 percent of facilities with serious, chronic violations were fined by Ecology.

"I didn't expect that it would look as bad as it looks," Cummings said of the findings in the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance report. "We have a lot of very serious concerns about Ecology's enforcement of our public interest laws."

Ecology spokeswoman Mary Getchell cautioned that both the new Ecology publication and the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance report leave out a great deal of important information, such as fines Ecology may have issued outside of the July 1995 to June 1996 time frame.

Getchell pointed out that Ecology uses several kinds of enforcement actions other than fines, such as administrative orders, consent decrees, notices of correction, notices of violation and cease-and-desist orders. Those other enforcement tools are not considered in the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance report, she said.

"In some instances, a penalty is not the appropriate enforcement tool to use," she said.

Getchell also noted that the new Ecology publication includes data from discharge-monitoring reports only.

"Discharge monitoring is not the sole piece of information used in making an enforcement decision," Getchell said.

The new Ecology publication, "Discharge Limit Violations and Compliance Report for the Period July 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996," is available from Ecology's Publications Office. To receive a copy, call (360) 407-7472 and ask for Publication No. 96-21. Ecology eventually plans to start posting such information on the Internet on a quarterly basis.

To receive a copy of the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance report, call (206) 286-1309.

8th annual Environmental Forum for Business

SPOKANE -- Former Green party presidential candidate Ralph Nader will be a guest speaker at the eighth annual Environmental Forum for Business April 28-30 at the Spokane Convention Center.

Nader will speak at an awards luncheon April 30 on the theme, "Twenty Years of Environmental Progress: Where Are We, and What Lies Ahead?"

The three-day event will feature four separate conferences on the following subjects: design and construction for a resource-efficient future; growth management and sustainability; industrial efficiency and "green" power; and inland Northwest water resources.

Keynote speaker William McDonough, dean of the University of Virginia's School of Architecture, will speak on sustainable building and community planning. Another speaker will be David Crockett, a member of the Chattanooga, Tenn. City Council, who will tell the story of how Chattanooga transformed itself from the nation's most polluted city to one of the cleanest in 25 years.

The event also will include a trade show and a variety of seminars on manufacturing, safety, health care and the automotive industry.

The Environmental Forum for Business is being coordinated by Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest in Spokane. Registration fees are $100 for one day, $150 for two days or $200 for three days. The registration deadline is April 21. For more information, call Lucy Gurnea or Kathy Miktuk at (509) 323-2641 or (509) 326-6885, or visit the following Web site: http://www.aiin.com

Seminar on new interim TPH policy

BELLEVUE -- GeoEngineers Inc. is sponsoring a seminar called "New Directions for Petroleum Cleanups: Interim TPH Policy" in Bellevue on April 24 and in Spokane on May 9.

The seminar will provide an overview and examples of how to use the Department of Ecology's Interim Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons Policy. Published in January, the policy allows for new technical methods for TPH analysis and calculation of TPH cleanup levels.

The policy could have far-reaching implications in Washington, where approximately 80 percent of the state's polluted sites suffer from petroleum contamination.

Speakers will include: Mike Gillett of Gillett Law Offices; Steve Robb and Lynn Coleman of the Department of Ecology; Elizabeth Stetz of the Port of Seattle; Kurt Anderson and Julie Wilson of GeoEngineers; and Hun Seak Park of the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency. The speakers will address the following subjects: petroleum chemistry; human health issues; the migration of petroleum products from soil to groundwater; and pollution liability insurance.

The registration fee of $55 covers materials, breakfast and lunch. The seminars will meet from 7:45 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. at the following locations: Embassy Suites, 3225 158th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, April 24; and Red Lion Spokane Valley, N. 1100 Sullivan Road, Spokane, May 9. To register, call Leah Martin of GeoEngineers at (206) 861-6055.

Environmental Watch

Used sneaker drive for basketball court
SEATTLE -- Approximately 25,000 used sneakers are needed to construct a recycled-content floor for a community basketball court in downtown Seattle.

A drive to collect sneakers for the SmartCells basketball floor will be launched on Earth Day, April 22.

The first SmartCells basketball floor was installed last year by SATECH, the Kirkland-based developer of the product, at Puget Sound Christian College in Edmonds. It took 15,000 sneakers and 525 tires to build the 5,000-square-foot court. The floor looks identical to a traditional wood court, according to Tom Vaux, president of SATECH.

Vaux said three different downtown sites are now being considered for a second recycled-content basketball court. The court would be located inside a community center offering senior activities, daycare and a computer room near the court, where volunteers from local businesses can help teach kids to use computers.

The second court will be 7,500 to 10,000 square feet in size. Lenny Wilkens, head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and former head coach of the Seattle Supersonics, has agreed to participate in the project, Vaux said.

Individuals and representatives from schools, businesses and community groups who are interested in donating old sneakers should call Doral Campbell at (206) 775-8686.

Sheldon hires new wetland ecologist
SEATTLE -- Sheldon & Associates, an environmental consulting firm specializing in aquatic resources analysis, regulatory compliance and compensation design, has hired Kim Harper as a senior wetland ecologist.

Harper has more than six years of wetlands and wildlife-related experience in the Northwest, Alaska and Montana. She is the primary author of the Natural Resource Management Plan for the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Harper has managed projects with budgets up to $240,000.

B.C., state officials to discuss exotic species
BELLINGHAM -- On April 7, officials from British Columbia and Washington will brief the Puget Sound-Georgia Basin International Task Force on environmental problems caused by non-native aquatic species.

An international work group will recommend ways to minimize the introduction of such non-indigenous species to the shared marine waters of Puget Sound and the Georgia Basin.

Non-native aquatic life frequently out-competes, preys upon or brings diseases or parasites to native species, often adversely changing the ecosystem in the process. A number of non-native species already have established themselves in Puget Sound and the Georgia Basin. These include the cordgrass Spartina and the oyster drill Ceratostoma inornatum.

The findings of a year-long study are compiled in "Pathways and Management of Marine Non-Indigenous Species in the Shared Waters of British Columbia and Washington," a report prepared for the Task Force work group that is addressing exotic species.

The public is invited to attend the full meeting of the Task Force, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 7 at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal's Loft Room, 355 Harris Ave., Bellingham. The public also may attend two public comment sessions at the following times: from 1:30 to 2 p.m. April 7 in the Bellingham Cruise Terminal Loft Room; and from 7:30 to 9 p.m. April 7 in the Best Western Heritage Inn Conference Room, 151 E. McLeod Road, Bellingham. For more information, call 1-800-54-SOUND.

Vashon Transfer/Recycling Station
VASHON ISLAND -- The King County Solid Waste Division will have a public meeting on the future Vashon Transfer/Recycling Station from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Chautauqua Elementary School cafeteria. The school is located at 9309 S.W. Cemetery Road on Vashon Island.

The Vashon Landfill is Vashon Island's current site for waste disposal. However, the landfill will reach capacity in 1999, at which time the transfer station will open. After a three-month site evaluation process, the landfill property has been selected by King County as the preferred site for the transfer station.

At Wednesday's meeting, Vashon Island residents will have an opportunity to hear and comment on the possibility of moving the transfer station to an area east of the landfill, on property presently owned by the state Department of Natural Resources. Project impacts and proposed efforts to mitigate noise, traffic and odors also will be discussed.

For more information, call John Komorita, project manager with the King County Solid Waste Division, at (206) 296-4426.

Workshop on wood waste best practices
SEATTLE -- The Clean Washington Center in Seattle recently contracted International Resources Unlimited (IRU) of Eugene, Ore. to create a Wood Waste Best Practices Manual and conduct workshops based on those practices.

IRU will offer its first workshop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14 at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Board Room. The workshop will focus on the cost and performance benefits of using wood waste materials in manufacturing and production processes.

Other consulting firms that assisted with the project include Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc. of Falls Church, Va., and Green Solutions of South Prairie.

To register or receive more information, call IRU President Gene Davis or IRU Project Director Mark Zinniker at (541) 344-9454, or send E-mail to: IRUGROUP@aol.com.

Ecology awards grants, loans to communities
OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has awarded grants and loans to the following local communities for waste management and cleanup projects:

• A $51,774 grant to the city of Redmond for a coordinated program of waste reduction and recycling projects. For information, call Diane Christel at Ecology at (360) 407-6062.

• A $125,508 grant to Douglas County for a comprehensive program of waste management projects, including construction of a recycling center in the town of Mansfield. Call Patricia Dice at (360) 407-6053.

• A $172,296 grant to Ferry County for a comprehensive program of waste management projects, including groundwater monitoring at the closed Torboy Landfill. Call Mike Drumright at (360) 407-6059.

• A $141,000 grant to Skamania County for a coordinated program of waste management projects, including the purchase of waste reduction and recycling equipment. Call Mike Drumright at (360) 407-6059.

• Grants totaling $72,150 to Asotin County and the city of Clarkston to purchase recycling equipment. Call Dan Koroma at (509) 456-2947.

• A $695,000 low-interest loan to the city of Clarkston to upgrade the city's wastewater treatment plant by installing a new 1,100-foot outfall pipe to the Snake River. Call Richard Koch at (509) 456-6162.

• A $75,000 grant to the Toledo School District to clean up soil contaminated by diesel fuel from an underground heating oil tank. Call Steve Loftness at (360) 407-6060, Tina Masterson at (360) 407-6244 or Libbie McCaflin at (360) 407-6144.

• Grants totaling $47,125 to the cities of Edmonds and Lynnwood for programs to increase residents' awareness of waste reduction and recycling opportunities. Call Allen Robbins at (360) 407-6074.

• A $70,000 grant to the Chelan-Douglas Health District to enforce solid waste laws by making inspections at solid-waste facilities and responding to approximately 150 complaints of illegal dumping. Call Patricia Dice at (360) 407-6053.

• A $100,000 grant to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department to assess suspected hazardous waste sites. Call Steve Loftness at (360) 407-6060.

• An $8,239 grant to the city of Port Angeles to clean up an underground storage tank site at the old Ediz Hook Salmon Club site, which is now owned by the city. Call Steve Loftness (360) 407-6060.