Environmental Watch

DOT's Jerry Alb to speak at PEMA luncheon

SEATTLE -- Jerry W. Alb, director of environmental services for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), will be the featured speaker at the next Professional Environmental Marketing Association (PEMA) luncheon.

The luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Latitude 47 restaurant on West Lake Union.

Alb received the Governor's Distinguished Management Leadership Award in 1996. As director of environmental services, he is responsible for all of WSDOT's environmental programs for the Washington State Ferries, the High Speed Rail Project, the Office of Urban Mobility and the Transportation Economic Partnerships Division.

Alb will review the scope of WSDOT's environmental issues statewide. He will touch on the potential for contractor and consultant roles in WSDOT projects. He also will review legislative impacts on WSDOT's environmental work.

Cost of the luncheon is $20 for PEMA members and $30 for non-members. The cost increases by $5 if payment is not received by Friday. To make reservations, call (425) 455-3680.

'Innovative settlement' reached with dairy

YAKIMA -- The state Department of Ecology and DeRuyter Brothers Dairy have reached what is being touted as an "innovative settlement." According to the settlement, the Eastern Washington dairy will donate money for water-quality improvements rather than pay fines.

Ecology hit the dairy with a $30,000 fine in March for alleged discharges of manure-laden waste into an agricultural return drain.

Although DeRuyter Brothers Dairy has not accepted blame for the incident, the company has agreed to settle the assessed penalty by helping to finance several local water-quality projects.

"The DeRuyter Brothers helped turn a potential conflict into a win for both parties and for the community," said Max Linden of Ecology's water quality section in Yakima.

"Innovative settlements" are binding agreements that allow the parties to resolve environmental issues while allowing Ecology to avoid the expense of litigation to collect the penalty.

Outlook-based DeRuyter Brothers Dairy will donate $20,000 to help Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District construct a sediment-settling basin to improve water quality in an agricultural drain. The dairy will donate $3,750 to the South Yakima Conservation District to help develop animal waste management plans and educate the local farming community about water-quality issues.

Another $3,750 will be spent on an environmental education project in the Lower Yakima Valley to be chosen by Ecology. The balance of $2,500 will go to the state general fund for administrative costs.

PEMA plans a night of networking

WOODINVILLE -- The Professional Environmental Marketing Association (PEMA) will have its first annual Networking and Member Appreciation Evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Redhook Brewery in Woodinville.

The event is free to members of PEMA, the Northwest Environmental Business Council (NEBC), Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). To make reservations, call (425) 455-3680. PEMA members may reserve display space by calling (425) 486-3650.

Non-Point Source conference rescheduled

WENATCHEE -- "Partnerships in Preventing Polluted Runoff," a two-day conference sponsored by the state Department of Ecology, has been rescheduled.

The conference originally had been set for Nov. 19 and 20. It will now be held March 31 and April 1 at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

Polluted runoff, also known as "nonpoint-source pollution," is the biggest source of contamination in most of Washington's lakes, rivers and streams.

For more information on the upcoming conference, call Bill Green at Ecology at (360) 407-6795, or send him an e-mail message at: wgre461@ecy.wa.gov.

Environmental Watch

Conference on natural resources law

SEATTLE -- The use and preservation of natural resources will be explored this week at "Natural Resources Law," a two-day conference set for Thursday and Friday at Cavanaugh's Inn on Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle.

"This conference will examine new ways to see natural resources and the right to develop them as commodities, and to see environmental constraints as opportunities," said program chairman Joe Mentor Jr. of the law firm Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson.

Featured speakers at the conference will include: William R. Gillis, Washington Utilities and Transportation commissioner; James K. Agee, author of Fire Ecology of Pacific Northwest Forests; Lorraine Bodi of American Rivers; Keith Dearborn of Bogle & Gates; Pamela Gunther of Parametrix Inc.; Andrew C. Kindig of Associated Earth Sciences Inc.; Jan Pauw of Weyerhaeuser Co.; Kenneth J. Raedeke of Raedeke Associates Inc.; and Jay J. Manning of the Washington State Attorney General's Office.

The conference is sponsored by Law Seminars International. To register or receive more information, call (206) 621-1938 or (800) 854-8009, or send e-mail to: hkate@lawseminars.com.

Ewoldsen, Chen join Agra

KIRKLAND -- Hans M. Ewoldsen has been named Northwest Region Manager for Agra Earth & Environmental Inc. He will be responsible for Agra offices and projects in Washington, Alaska, Idaho and western Montana.

Ewoldsen has more than 25 years experience in consulting engineering in the United States and overseas. A registered engineer and geologist, he has worked extensively in the geotechnical, engineering geology and environmental engineering disciplines.

Barry S. Chen also has joined Agra as an associate in the company's Geotechnical Engineering Group. Chen has more than 10 years experience as a consulting engineer, instructor and researcher. Before joining Agra's Kirkland office, he practiced geotechnical engineering on transportation, infrastructure, industrial and commercial projects throughout the Southeastern United States, the Caribbean and the Far East.

Chen specializes in using in-situ testing techniques for characterizing sites and developing foundation systems. He will serve as a project manager and as a technical resource for Agra's Kirkland office and 17 other offices in the Western United States.

In other news, Martin J. Fox, a senior staff engineer with Agra's Kirkland office, is on a three-month assignment in Agra's joint-venture field office in Ethiopia. While in Ethiopia, Fox will be preparing high-end AutoCAD construction drawings.

The joint-venture project between Agra and Associated Engineering Ltd. involves design and construction of a water distribution system and two reservoirs for the city of Addis Ababa. The project is being funded in part by the African Development Agency. The component Fox is working on is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Fukuda joins Pacific Habitat Services

WILSONVILLE, Ore. -- Pacific Habitat Services Inc. (PHS), an environmental consulting firm and construction company in Wilsonville, Ore., has added Julie Fukuda to its staff of biologists.

A wetland scientist, Fukuda will work as a project manager for wetland permit processing and wildlife habitat assessments throughout the Pacific Northwest. She will design mitigation wetlands and conduct inventories of rare, threatened and endangered plants and animals.

Fukuda has considerable experience working on environmental projects for both government agencies and private clients. Before joining PHS, she was a project manager at SRI/Shapiro/AGCO Inc. in Portland.

Shipyards, fabricators can prevent pollution

SEATTLE -- "Pollution Prevention at Shipyards," an industry roundtable report on stormwater management, depainting alternatives and best management practices, is now available on the Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center's Web site.

The roundtable report contains a compilation of best management practices, contacts and information resources. Also available on the Web site are fact sheets to assist shipyards with Clean Air Act compliance issues, links to maritime trade associations, and links to pollution prevention research projects relevant to the shipbuilding and repair industry.

PPRC also has published "The Metal Fabrication Compliance and Pollution Prevention Workbook" for metal fabricators in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

The purpose of the workbook is to assist the metal fabrication industry with improving competitiveness, cutting costs and meeting environmental-compliance challenges through pollution prevention. PPRC published the workbook through a grant provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The workbook helps fabricators understand the wastes associated with their industry and offers practical-pollution prevention ideas for minimizing wastes and reducing costs. Useful for metal fabrication companies of all sizes, the workbook includes lists of resources and contacts that can provide additional information.

Printed versions of the workbook are available through state Small Business Assistance Programs. Washington's SBAP can be reached at (360) 407-6803. Contact numbers for the other states are: Oregon, (503) 229-6147; Idaho, (208) 373-0497; and Alaska, (907) 269-7571.

The workbook will soon be available on PPRC's Web site. The site includes a metals industry "sector button" containing fact sheets, research links and contacts useful to the metals industry.

For more information on the shipyards report, call (206) 223-1151 or send e-mail to info@pprc.org. For more information on the metal fabrication workbook, contact Chris Wiley at (206) 223-1151 or send e-mail to: cwiley@pprc.org.

Weston publishes 'The Brownfields Book'

WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- Roy F. Weston Inc. has published "The Brownfields Book," a guide to the legal and financial tools that allow abandoned contaminated properties, or "brownfields," to be redeveloped profitably.

Co-written with the Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, the book opens with an overview of the conditions that created brownfields, and goes on to discuss:

• the legal and financial issues affecting brownfield redevelopment efforts;

• cost-effective approaches to site remediation; and

• government and private initiatives that are available to turn brownfields into marketable development opportunities.

The book features case studies of abandoned properties that have been successfully revitalized in Philadelphia, Chicago, Chattanooga, Tenn., and Bridgeport, Conn. It also contains a survey of state and voluntary cleanup laws and a guide to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency brownfield redevelopment policies.

For more information, visit Weston's Web site and click on "Brownfields Perspective." To order a copy of the book, contact: Laurie E. Mainquist, Brownfields Coordinator, Roy F. Weston Inc., 3 Hawthorn Parkway, Suite 400, Vernon Hills, IL 60061-1450, (847) 918-4000, or e-mail.

Environmental Watch

Environmental management forum planned

SEATTLE -- "Using Environmental Management as a Competitive Advantage," a daylong forum on environmental marketing issues, is set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the University of Washington campus.

The forum is designed to highlight companies that are using environmental management practices to enhance product positioning.

Representatives from Hewlett Packard, Intel and Monsanto will discuss the use of environmental attributes in product positioning. They say the integration of marketing and environmental management creates opportunities for reduced costs and increased market share.

Joel Makower, editor of the Green Business Letter and author of many books on green marketing, will moderate a panel in which Weyerhaueser, Patagonia and Deep E Co. will explore the effect environmental-marketing strategies have had on their products.

Students from the UW Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program will participate in a case discussion about the Body Shop, looking at the potential benefits and pitfalls of green marketing. A Body Shop representative will expand on the case, describing the company's marketing strategy and its impact on customer relations.

In addition, the LN2000, UW's prototype liquid nitrogen car, will be displayed at the forum.

The cost of the full-day session is $100, which includes materials and lunch. The forum will meet in the Seafirst Executive Education Center's Boeing Auditorium. To register or receive more information, call Andrew Crowder at (206) 543-9012, or send e-mail to: mforum@u.washingt.edu.

Puget Sound Action Team is busy this week

OLYMPIA -- The Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team (PSWQAT) has scheduled two public meetings on water-quality issues this week. The agency also is in the process of seeking applicants for environmental projects.

Here's what's going on:

• The first public meeting set for this week will focus on the theme, "Marine Species in Decline in Puget Sound: What Can We Do?" It is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Port of Seattle's Commission Chambers at Pier 69 on Seattle's waterfront.

  Several state and federal agencies, tribes and other groups are working on this issue as part the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin International Task Force's effort to protect the shared waters of Washington and British Columbia.

  As part of this effort, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife recently identified 13 species of fish, seabirds, marine mammals and marine invertebrates that are declining in Puget Sound. Among the species are the Olympia oyster, copper rockfish, harbor porpoise and marbled murrelet.

  During the meeting, a Task Force work group will discuss actions to help these species recover. The recommended actions will be presented to the Task Force in January and then to the Environmental Cooperation Council, which includes the governor of Washington and the premier of British Columbia.

  Anyone interested in Puget Sound's marine life is encouraged to attend this public meeting and comment on potential solutions for the recovery of the declining species. The work group also is accepting written comments through Nov. 19. Send comments to: Mary Lou Mills, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 43144, Olympia, WA 98504-3144.

• On Friday, officials from British Columbia and Washington will brief the Puget Sound Council on efforts to protect the shared waters and resources of Puget Sound and the Georgia Basin.

  "We expect to hear about a number of common issues on which B.C. and Washington are cooperating to solve problems," said Nancy McKay, chairwoman of the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team and Puget Sound Council, which advises the Action Team.

  The 1997-99 Puget Sound Water Quality Work Plan lists the work of the Puget Sound/Georgia Basin International Task Force as one of the top priorities for action through June 1999. Specific issues being addressed by the Task Force include: preventing non-native species from degrading the environment; protecting marine species that are in decline; reducing habitat loss in the shared waters; and using "marine protected areas" to protect fish and wildlife.

  The Council meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Blanchard Community Hall in Skagit County. There will be an opportunity for public comment at 1 p.m.

  For more information about the Action Team and Council, visit Puget Sound Online or call 1-800-54-SOUND.

• PSWQAT is requesting proposals for Public Involvement and Education (PIE) Projects Funds. More than $500,000 in contracts will be awarded during this round of funding to projects relating directly to the cleanup and protection of Puget Sound.

  Any Washington resident, business or community organization, tribal or local government or school may receive PIE funds. State colleges, universities and community colleges may also apply. Maximum funding is $40,000 per project.

  Workshops to assist applicants in writing proposals are scheduled for Dec. 1-4 at various locations around Puget Sound. Proposals must be submitted to PSWQAT by Jan. 15, 1998.

  Funding preference will be given to projects that focus on the priorities for protecting and restoring water quality and biological resources as identified in the 1997-99 Puget Sound Water Quality Work Plan, including:

• fixing and preventing pollution and flooding problems from stormwater;

• fixing and preventing pollution problems from on-site sewage systems;

• preventing pollution of certified shellfish growing areas and restoring contaminated shellfish beds;

• implementing local watershed action plans;

• improving fish passage and fish and wildlife habitat; and

• working with British Columbia to promote protection of Puget Sound and the Georgia Basin.

Since 1987, $4.2 million has been allocated for 239 PIE projects. Funds for the PIE program come from the Centennial Clean Water Fund and are appropriated by the state Legislature.

To apply for PIE funds, call the Action Team at 1-800-54-SOUND or (360) 407-7300.

Raedeke adds two professional staff

SEATTLE -- Raedeke Associates Inc. (RAI), a Seattle environmental consulting firm, has announced the addition of two professional staff members and the promotion of another.

Christopher Wright has joined RAI as a soil and wetland scientist. Formerly with Shapiro and Associates of Seattle, Wright has more than eight years experience with wetland projects, including environmental impact statements, restoration plans and Clean Water Act Section 404 and 401 permitting. Wright has also categorized stream habitats, measured stream flows and conducted fisheries surveys. He will serve as project manager on wetland projects.

Victoria Luiting has joined RAI as an ecologist. Formerly with the University of Washington's Wetland Ecosystem Team and the King County Parks' Interpretive Program, Luiting has four years experience in wetland systems, including monitoring, restoration and plant identification. She will assist on wetland and environmental assessment projects.

Richard Lundquist, an RAI employee for 10 years, has been promoted to the position of associate. He will continue to serve as a senior project manager on wetland and environmental assessment projects.

Established more than 18 years ago, RAI consists of a team of biologists with experience in environmental analysis, sensitive areas and wetlands identification, plant and animal communities studies, and mitigation.

Environmental Watch

Cleanup plan for Couer d'Alene River basin

COEUR d'ALENE, Idaho -- Idaho's plan to clean up the Coeur d'Alene River basin contains few changes from current efforts, critics say.

The plan to limit metals pollution in the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d'Alene was approved by a governor-appointed commission last Thursday.

City wastewater officials like it because it doesn't limit the amount of metals that sewage treatment plants can dump into the river. But they fear the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency won't accept the plan because it could conflict with the Clean Water Act.

Critics are concerned that it sets the stage for letting mining companies off the hook.

"What it does is it maintains the status quo," said Scott Brown, state issues director of the Idaho Conservation League. "That's not what this process is about."

The Idaho Division of Environmental Quality is planning a 30-day public comment period before sending the plan to the agency's administrator for approval.

After that, the document goes to the EPA, which has 30 days to approve or reject it.

The plan does not include any specific limits on metals coming from the wastewater treatment plants.

That's because the vast majority of the metals pollution comes from mining waste that's settled in the banks of the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River and contaminated streambeds in its tributaries, said Geoff Harvey of DEQ.

Still, wastewater utility officials are worried the EPA will reject the state plan and write more stringent limitations.

In a letter to the EPA's regional administrator in Seattle, wastewater utility officials from Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden called the current process of the Coeur d'Alene Basin Commission fatally flawed.

As an alternative, the utilities suggest creating a regional authority, that includes Washington state interests, to come up with site-specific limits on metals loading in the Spokane River.

Wilder has new senior project manager

PORTLAND -- Patrick Turina has been named senior environmental project manager for Wilder Environmental, a division of Wilder Construction Co.

Turina will be responsible for business development, estimating and project management in the Portland office, where he will report to Mark Riem, Wilder's branch manager in Portland.

During his 13 years in the environmental industry, Turina managed hazardous waste site remediation projects and programs for federal, state and commercial-sector clients. He was responsible for technical and field personnel supervision, treatment technology implementation, waste stream management and hazardous materials transportation and disposal.

Turina has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Oregon State University.

Now in its 86th year, Wilder Construction Co. has been performing environmental remediation and construction projects since 1984. The company established Wilder Environmental as an operating division in 1992. Wilder Construction generates an annual volume of $150 million from business centers in Bellingham, Everett, Olympia, Anchorage and Portland.

Addition at Agra Earth & Environmental

KIRKLAND -- Stephen A. Siebert is the newest project engineer in the geotechnical group at Agra Earth and Environmental Inc. in Kirkland.

A registered professional engineer in Washington and British Columbia, Siebert has more than eight years experience in his field. Siebert's project tasks have ranged from construction observation to project management.

He has a completed a variety of geotechnical projects involving foundation design, excavation support, slope stability and liquefaction assessment. He also has been closely involved in the evaluation and mitigation of abandoned coal mine hazards at numerous sites in Washington.

Delta Toxicology CEO joins task force

SEATTLE -- Seattle Mayor Norm Rice recently appointed Richard C. Pleus to serve on the Mayor's Small Business Task Force.

Pleus is principal and CEO of Seattle-based Delta Toxicology.

"I'm the only neurotoxicologist on the task force," Pleus said.

The task force is designed to increase the city's sensitivity to the needs of small businesses. Pleus will serve on the task force through June 1999.

Established two and a half years ago, Delta Toxicology has six full-time and five part-time employees.

"We assess the impact of chemicals and microbes on human health and the ecosystem," Pleus explained. "We call ourselves a public health firm, because we try to protect public health and at the same time promote economic development of companies."

Pleus said his firm assesses the way in which a company's processes might impact the health of nearby residents. Delta Toxicology also examines businesses' waste to "determine if it is truly toxic and how it should be disposed of," Pleus said.

"From the neurotoxicology side, sometimes people will sense foul odors in the air," Pleus said. "I like getting involved in determining the difference between a chemical that is toxic versus one that just smells bad. ... It's pretty neat."

Reynolds Metals to sell recycling operations

RICHMOND, Va. -- Reynolds Metals Co. Friday signed a letter of intent to sell its U.S. recycling operations to Wise Metals Co.

Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Reynolds said it expects Wise Metals to retain all current Reynolds employees. The company said the sale should be completed by Jan. 30.

The transaction isn't expected to have a material effect on Reynolds' results, the company said.

Reynolds is based in Richmond, Va. Wise Metals is in Linthicum, Md.

Recycling Industries buys Williams Lans

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Recycling Industries Inc. said Monday it agreed to acquire William Lans Sons Co., an automotive scrap and scrap-metal recycler.

Terms were not disclosed.

Recycling Industries, based in Englewood, Colo., is a recycling company that supplies raw materials to the steel industry. It has annual revenue of $27.6 million.

William Lans Sons, based in South Beloit, Ill., has annual revenue of $30 million. It processes automotive scrap, as well as industrial, demolition and non-ferrous scrap metals.

Recycling Industries said the move will boost annual revenue to $245 million and expand its presence in the Midwest.

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

Environmental Watch

Watershed money available to communities

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology announced yesterday that it will issue $2.5 million in grants to help local communities start or continue the watershed-planning process.

Earlier this year, the state Legislature set aside a total of $5 million for watershed planning at the local level. The watershed-planning grants are designed to help local governments collect and evaluate watershed information, then use that information to make decisions on how to manage water resources and water quality in the future.

Washington state is divided into 62 separate "water resource inventory areas" that are eligible for grant money. Each area may apply for a grant of up to $50,000 to develop a budget and timetable for the watershed-planning process. Once that is accomplished, each area may apply for an additional grant of up to $200,000.

Ecology and legislative leaders are now establishing the eligibility criteria for the $200,000 grants.

To receive a grant application, contact: Ann Shipley, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, (360) 407-6624. Additional information and grant application forms also may be accessed on Ecology's Internet home page.

R.W. Beck hires two environmental engineers

SEATTLE -- Jessica Guerrette and Lisa Theriault have joined R.W. Beck's Seattle office as environmental engineers. Both Guerrette and Theriault initially will work on municipal water supply and surface water projects.

Guerrette has a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering and a background in water and wastewater analysis, consulting and design.

Theriault has a bachelor's degree in urban systems engineering, as well as an environmental management certificate. Her experience includes design, analysis and consulting related to fish passage, sediment transport and stormwater facilities.

Founded in 1942, R.W. Beck is a consulting and engineering firm that serves both the public and private sectors. The company provides engineering-based management, consulting and design in the following areas: solid waste management; environmental services; electric, thermal plant and electrified transit facilities; water, wastewater and surface water; and construction management.

PEMA luncheon to focus on Tacoma utilities

SEATTLE -- Karen J. Larkin, assistant public works director for the city of Tacoma, will be the featured speaker at the next Professional Environmental Marketing Association (PEMA) luncheon.

Larkin has been with the Tacoma Public Works Department since 1977, when she graduated from Seattle University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. She is now responsible for utility services that include solid waste, sanitary sewer and storm drainage. She supervises 428 employees and oversees a combined annual operating budget of $103 million.

The city of Tacoma has been named a potentially-responsible party (PRP) for five federal Superfund sites, so Larkin has extensive experience dealing with environmental cleanups. One of those five sites is the Tacoma Landfill, which falls under the auspices of the city's solid waste utility.

Tacoma's sanitary sewer utility provides about 70,000 customers with secondary wastewater treatment and transmission services at two wastewater treatment plants. The city's storm drain utility provides 50,000 customers with flood and erosion control services and a variety of water quality programs, including design and remediation of several Superfund sites within Commencement Bay.

At the PEMA luncheon, Larkin will give Tacoma's perspective on the reauthorization of Superfund and the Clean Water Act. She also will discuss sanitary sewer overflows.

The PEMA luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Latitude 47 restaurant at 1232 Westlake in Seattle. Cost is $20 for PEMA members and $30 for non-members. To make reservations, call (206) 455-3680.

Comment on Tacoma Landfill's future

TACOMA -- The city of Tacoma has requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Ecology allow extended operation of a 31-acre portion of the Tacoma Landfill for five years after the current closure deadline of Dec. 31, 1999.

If the extension is approved, the city would be allowed to continue placing garbage in the 31-acre central area of the landfill until the end of 2004.

The landfill is a federal Superfund site. Site investigations in the 1980s revealed that the landfill was contaminating area groundwater with volatile organic compounds and was generating landfill gas (methane) that could be dangerous to the surrounding community.

Since that time, the older portion of the landfill has been capped, a landfill gas extraction system has been installed, and a groundwater extraction and treatment system has been put in place.

However, rainfall continues to seep through the refuse placed in the landfill's central area, which still receives waste. Leachate from the 31-acre central area is captured and treated at the city's sewage treatment plant.

The EPA, Ecology and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department are evaluating the city's request to extend deadline for closing the central area. Public comments on the city's request must be submitted by Nov. 24.

A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Foss High School's Little Theater, 2112 S. Tyler, Tacoma. Written comments may be sent to: Bob Kievit, EPA Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 300 Desmond Drive, Suite 102, Lacey, WA 98503, fax: (360) 753-8080.

Conference on state environmental laws

SEATAC -- "The Fundamentals of Washington Environmental Law Compliance," a conference sponsored by Government Institutes of Rockville, Md., is scheduled for Nov. 24-25 at the Holiday Inn SeaTac, 17338 International Blvd.

Topics to be covered at the conference include: State Environmental Policy Act; Model Toxics Control Act; brownfields initiatives; Endangered Species Act requirements; water pollution control and compliance; water quality issues; Shoreline & Coastal Zone Management Act; current developments in air pollution control; dangerous waste regulations; the Growth Management Act; and environmental considerations in business transactions.

Speakers include: Janet A. Thompson of the Department of Ecology; R. Paul Beveridge and John W. Phillips of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe; Chuck Wolfe and J. Tayloe Washburn of Foster Pepper & Shefelman; Douglas S. Morrison and Leonard H. Sorrin of Bogle & Gates; Charles W. Lean of Perkins Coie; and Kay Gabriel of Sen. Slade Gorton's office.

To register, call (301) 921-2345.

Applying geophysics to engineering problems

CHICAGO -- The Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Environmental and Engineering Problems (SAGEEP) is scheduled for March 22-26, 1998 at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago.

SAGEEP is the national meeting of the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society.

SAGEEP '98 will present three days of technical sessions and poster presentations on infrastructure, transportation, engineering hazards, environmental assessments, groundwater, remedial monitoring, surface waters, expedited site characterization and borehole geophysics. New technologies and methods of imaging also will be explored.

A keynote address will be given by Steve Colentino, brownfields development lead for the EPA in Illinois.

To register or receive more information, visit the SAGEEP Web site or contact Jayne Sturges at (303) 771-2000, e-mail: jsturges@compuserve.com.

Environmental Watch

Delegation from Philippines visits Seattle

SEATTLE -- Six business and government leaders from the Cebu City and Mandaue City areas of the Philippines are visiting Seattle this week to learn about environmentally-sound watershed management techniques.

Known as the Butuanon River Watershed Management Project Team, the delegation is here to receive technical advice that might prove helpful in the Philippines, where the Butuanon River is severely polluted from industrial discharges, wastewater and raw sewage.

The delegation will meet this week with representatives from local environmental firms, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Ecology. They also will be given site tours of the Issaquah Highlands (Grand Ridge) development, the Tacoma Landfill and King County's West Point wastewater treatment plant.

Some of the local environmental firms involved in supporting the delegation's visit include: Pentec Environmental, GeoEngineers, Entrix Inc., Parametrix Inc., CH2M Hill, Foss Environmental, Schlosser Geographic Systems and the Sembara Corp.

The visit has been coordinated by the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) and the Northwest Environmental Business Council (NEBC). The state agency and the trade association are both working to help Washington environmental firms find work in overseas markets.

"Any firms that care about doing environmental work in Southeast Asia should make themselves known to me or to the NEBC," said Alison Krupnick, CTED's program director for emerging markets.

For more information on overseas opportunities, call Alison Krupnick at CTED at (206) 464-6285 or Alice DeVault at NEBC at (206) 528-3410.

Additions, promotions at Huckell/Weinman

KIRKLAND -- Huckell/Weinman Associates (HWA) in Kirkland has announced the addition of three professional staff members and the promotion of three others.

Helene Kornblatt has joined HWA as a principal. Formerly with Shapiro & Associates Inc., Kornblatt has 20 years of environmental planning and management experience for major transportation, transit development, redevelopment and public works projects. She will serve as project manager on the Everett-to-Seattle Commuter Rail Project EA/SEIS for the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (RTA).

Chris Lawson has joined HWA as a senior planner. Formerly with Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp., Lawson has 18 years experience in environmental impact assessments, permitting, land-use planning, visual analysis and economic and socioeconomic evaluation. He is now the project manager for the SEPA/NEPA EIS for Trendwest Resort's proposed Mountain Star resort in Central Washington.

Katie McKinstry has joined HWA as a staff economist. She will be responsible for economic and market analysis, fiscal impact studies and demographic assessment. She is providing economic consulting services for the new Seahawks Stadium and Exhibition Center project.

The following HWA employees recently were promoted:

n Michael Blumen has been named a principal of the firm; n Deborah Munkberg has been named a senior planner; and

n Kimberly Browne has been named a project economist.

HWA provides land use, project management, environmental and economic consulting services to both the public and private sectors. The firm is headed up by Duane Huckell, president, and Richard Weinman, vice president.

VHPR, Stern tapped for PSAPCA audit

BELLEVUE -- VHPR (Vander Houwen Public Relations) of Bellevue and Stern Research Services of Kirkland have been retained by the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency (PSAPCA) to conduct an external communications audit for the agency and recommend changes.

The purpose of the project is to improve the consistency and authority of PSAPCA's communication to a broad array of audiences, including the general public, educators, industry and the media.

PSAPCA has responsibility for clean air throughout King, Kitsap, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Government officials from all four counties will be included in the study.

VHPR plans to use a variety of methods to audit the agency's current external communications, including focus groups, in-person and telephone interviews and a possible print audit. The project will be completed by June 1998.

Columbia salmon populations to be assessed

PORTLAND -- The Northwest Power Planning Council is initiating three research projects to assess salmon populations and habitat in the Columbia River.

The studies will include an assessment of the impact of Columbia River dams on salmon survival in the estuary and the nearshore Pacific Ocean environment.

The Council recommended the three research projects for funding by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in fiscal year 1998. BPA is the federal agency that sells electricity generated at federal dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries. As such, BPA is responsible for funding projects to mitigate the dams' impact on fish and wildlife.

After BPA reviews and approves the three studies, it will select contractors to do the work. The three research projects are expected to provide:

n an assessment of the impacts of development and operation of the dams on the river's salmon spawning and rearing habitat;

n an assessment of Columbia River Chinook salmon populations and current theories about population structure, and an examination of how to apply this knowledge to fish recovery efforts; and

n an assessment of the impact of hydroelectric development and operation on the Columbia River estuary and nearshore plume.

For more information, call the Northwest Power Planning Council's central office in Portland at (800) 222-3355.

Honda's new engine has almost no emissions

TOKYO (AP) -- Honda Motor Co. said yesterday it has developed a gasoline engine that produces almost no exhaust.

The engine cuts emissions with two catalytic converters -- one positioned near the exhaust manifold and another conventionally located under the floor, Honda said.

The devices trap more pollutants in all three steps of engine operation, from cold start through warm-up to normal operation, the company said.

Honda is calling the technology a Zero-Level Emission Vehicle, although it is actually not zero-emission like electric cars.

No decision has been made on when Honda will begin selling vehicles with the new engines or on how much they will cost to produce, Honda said.

Environmental Watch

Port of Portland awards EIS/ESA contract

PORTLAND -- As part of the initial phase of developing its property on the western half of Hayden Island, the Port of Portland has awarded a contract to David Barrows/Woodward Clyde Consultants for preparation of an environmental impact statement and an Endangered Species Act biological assessment.

The environmental work is required before permits can be sought to begin construction on the Port's 750-acre Hayden Island property. Total construction costs are expected to reach $657 million, Port spokesman Aaron Ellis said.

"The earliest we would see construction begin is 2000 or 2001," Ellis said. "It will take that long to get permits and to find a private investor."

The Port of Portland Commission approved the West Hayden Island Development Program in April 1997. The Port has come up with a phased construction plan to be carried out on Hayden Island over a 20- to 30-year time frame. Depending on market demand, Phase 1 is expected to be a bulk or mineral grain terminal, Phase 2 is expected to be a container terminal, and Phase 3 would either be a second container terminal or a new bulk or mineral grain terminal.

Once the Port finds a private investor, (such as a grain company), the Port will work to secure additional money, "such as a revenue bond issuance, or general obligation bonds," Ellis said. Federal and state funding and direct infrastructure investment by the Port of Portland also are possibilities, Ellis said.

The Portland offices of David Barrows & Associates and Woodward Clyde Consultants teamed up to win the EIS/ESA contract, which is not to exceed $830,000. The EIS will assess a broad range of environmental issues associated with the island development project. The ESA analysis will be carried out at the same time and will include a review of possible endangered species issues by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In a separate but related action, the Port of Portland awarded a design contract to David Evans & Associates Inc. of Portland for preliminary engineering work on a proposed highway bridge. The bridge would be 2,500 feet in length and would link Hayden Island with North Marine Drive in the Port's Rivergate Industrial District. David Evans' design contract is not to exceed $470,000.

Preparation of the EIS/ESA and the preliminary bridge design are expected to take about two years to complete, Ellis said.

Groznik joins Jones & Stokes

BELLEVUE -- Frank Groznik has joined the Bellevue office of Jones & Stokes Associates as a senior environmental planner.

Groznik will be responsible for project management and business development in the areas of landscape architecture, recreation, NEPA/SEPA services and FERC relicensing. He has a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture from Rutgers College.

Before joining Jones & Stokes, Groznik owned his own firm which specialized in resource management planning. He provided strategic guidance on hydropower issues for Long View Associates, was principal-in-charge of EDAW's Seattle office for eight years, and was planning department manager for CH2M Hill.

Groznik was the lead landscape architect on the design of the Mount St. Helens Visitors Center. He also served as an advisor to Seattle City Light for FERC compliance issues on the Skagit hydroelectric project.

Jones & Stokes is an environmental planning and natural resource sciences firm with offices in Bellevue, Phoenix, and Sacramento and Irvine, Calif.

Jerome joins Laucks Testing Laboratories

SEATTLE -- Laucks Testing Laboratories Inc. of Seattle has appointed Tamara Jerome as its Northwest regional sales manager.

Jerome has 10 years experience in the environmental laboratory industry as both a chemist and a project manager.

A full-service analytical laboratory, Laucks has been in business in the Northwest since 1908. Its Seattle office employs 55 people.

Laucks is accredited by the state departments of Ecology and Health and provides analytical testing services for the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency.

Laucks also is certified for the microbiological, elemental and chemical analysis of food and meat products.

Puget Sound research papers requested

OLYMPIA -- What are the threats to Puget Sound's health, and what are the potential solutions? How do we make connections between scientific research and solutions to recognized problems?

The Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team is now accepting proposals for research papers and posters to be presented at the Puget Sound Research '98 conference March 12-13, 1998. Abstracts for papers and posters must be postmarked by Monday, Oct. 20.

The papers and posters must address issues pertinent to Puget Sound research, such as: living resources and physical processes of Puget Sound; pollution effects on Puget Sound; physical oceanography and geology (including coastal processes); and connecting basic science to resource management.

Sponsors of Puget Sound Research '98 include the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- Region 10, businesses, state and local agencies and environmental organizations.

For information on submitting a research paper or to find out more about the upcoming conference, call Dave Sale at (360) 407-7282 or visit the Action Team's Web site.

In related news, the Puget Sound Water Quality Action team is sponsoring three workshops around the Puget Sound area to help businesses, community groups, educators, government staff and tribal governments develop effective projects to improve the environmental quality of Puget Sound.

"Every day people around Puget Sound come up with new ideas for environmental projects," said Laurie Usher, education program lead for the Action Team. "But they often don't realize there's a lot of work that goes into a project long before the shovel ever hits the dirt."

Usher says project organizers, who range from business people to students, need training on how to fund their work and who to involve in their projects.

To participate in one of the three workshops, people must register by Oct. 20. The $15 cost includes lunch and refreshments. The workshops are scheduled at the following locations and times:

• Island Lake Park, central Kitsap County, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30.

• University of Washington, Seattle, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 3.

• Ship Harbor Inn, Anacortes, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5.

Registration information is available from the Action Team at 1-800-54-SOUND.

Environmental Watch

Battelle, Terra Vac form joint venture

RICHLAND -- Battelle and Terra Vac Corp. have teamed up to form a new company, Current Environmental Solutions LLC, which will bring to market two technologies for cleaning up contaminated soils.

The technologies, called "six-phase soil heating" and "in situ corona," are both electrically-based.

Six-phase soil heating is a technique that steam strips contaminants from soils in place, eliminating the need for excavation or soil pre-treatment. The technology relies on an electrical current to heat the soil, causing moisture to boil and strip volatile and semi-volatile contaminants from soil particles. The contaminated steam is removed through venting and is treated above ground. The technology has been demonstrated successfully at several sites across the United States over the past four years.

Meanwhile, in situ corona is designed to destroy organic contaminants underground. The technique destroys toxic materials such as chlorinated solvents, PCBs, pesticides and industrial fuel oils and lubricants. This technology is still under development.

Both technologies were developed by Battelle researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) through funding from the Department of Energy. Battelle operates PNNL for DOE.

Terra Vac is an environmental engineering firm that specializes in site assessments and in situ, (or "in place"), soil and groundwater remediation. The company has 11 offices on three continents, including a Seattle office managed by Michael E. Dodson.

Based in Richland, Current Environmental Solutions initially will focus on the deployment of six-phase soil heating, as well as further development of in situ corona. For more information, call Theresa Bergsman at Current Environmental Solutions at (509) 943-8810.

FGH acquires Echo Recycles

KENT -- FGH Inc., a Kent company that recycles printer parts, recently purchased Echo Recycles of Seattle, a firm that specialized in recycling laser printer toner cartridges.

Since the acquisition, FGH changed its name to Ecco Recycles. The acquisition will increase Ecco's business by 25 percent and enable it to begin recycling virtually every plastic part its clients' computer printers, said Ecco Recycles President Mike Stead.

"Together we're able to more fully serve our company's needs," Stead said. "Now there's really no printer-using company that can't use our services."

Seattle resident Brian McCarthy originally founded Echo Recycles in June 1996, the same month FGH began its operations. Echo became the Seattle area's only recycler of printer cartridges, while FGH concentrated on the plastic parts in the printers themselves. Both recycling markets were virtually untapped, Stead said.

McCarthy, who recently changed careers and began working as a bicycle manufacturer, approached Stead several months ago with the idea of selling his company to FGH. With the acquisition of Echo, Stead said he expects his gross sales to exceed $330,000 this year. He said he hopes his company will continue to grow by 25 percent a year.

Ecco Recycles, which now has a staff of seven, receives 90 percent of its recyclable printer parts from companies in the Puget Sound area. But, Stead pointed out, the company can accept parts from anywhere in the country via UPS delivery.

"We want to make sure that businesses don't throw away any part of their printers," Stead said.

PSI acquires GTG Geotechnical

LOMBARD, Ill. -- PSI, a major geotechnical engineering and environmental consulting firm based in Lombard, Ill., has acquired the assets and ongoing business of the Denver-area firm GTG Geotechnical and Environmental Services Ltd.

Based in Wheat Ridge, Colo., GTG has additional offices in Boulder and Colorado Springs. GTG holds certification from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to test hot-mix asphalt, asphalt aggregate, soil and cement concrete aggregates. GTG is expected to generate revenues of approximately $4 million in 1997.

PSI said it will allow GTG's current management team to continue to oversee their offices under PSI's ownership. PSI also said it will not close any GTG offices or lay off any of GTG's 80 employees.

PSI specializes in construction materials testing and quality control, materials testing and certification, non-destructive examination and testing, roof and pavement consulting, geotechnical engineering and drilling services, environmental and asbestos consulting, analytical services and training programs.

PSI has more than 3,000 employees with 150 offices in 40 states, including offices in Seattle, Tacoma, Bothell, Poulsbo, Spokane and Portland. PSI also acquired Pacific Testing Laboratories of Seattle in March 1997.

Applied Environmental Services has moved

PORT ORCHARD -- Applied Environmental Services Inc. has moved its headquarters from temporary offices at South Kitsap Mall to a new 4,000-square-foot office building the company constructed in Port Orchard.

The new office building is located at 1550 Woodridge Drive S.E., Port Orchard, WA 98366, (360) 769-8400.

Applied Environmental Services specializes in fisheries resources, aquatic sciences, wetlands mitigation and permitting.

"If it has to do with water, we do it," office manager Cynara Soldberg said.

Now celebrating its four-year anniversary, the company was started in 1993 by company principals Lisa Berntsen Stephens, president and CEO, and Wayne Wright, vice president. The company has six employees in Port Orchard and one employee in Anchorage. In Alaska, the company focuses airports, roads and recreational trails, Wright said.

"We do the permitting and investigation for airports out in the bush," Wright said.

UP settles city's lawsuit over contamination

LA GRANDE, Ore. (AP) -- Union Pacific Railroad has settled a lawsuit filed last year by the city of La Grande and downtown property owners over oil spills.

The settlement amount was not released.

The city and property owners claimed in their $13 million lawsuit that the railroad allowed oil to spill into the ground from the 1950s until the early 1980s.

The spills, the lawsuit contended, caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage to downtown property, which owners claimed had decreased in value.

Two years ago, the Union County Board of Equalization reduced the land value of 13 commercial properties near the railroad yard to $1,000 each.

Union Pacific took steps to clean the contamination from 1982 to 1989, and says the railroad yard meets environmental standards.

The case was scheduled to go to trial Oct. 20 in federal court in Portland.

Environmental Watch

Ecology fines sand and gravel operation

WASHOUGAL -- The state Department of Ecology hit Zimmerly Rock Products with a $97,000 fine last week for allegedly damaging endangered steelhead and salmon habitat in Gibbons Creek, a tributary to the Columbia River.

The $97,000 fine is the largest penalty Ecology ever issued to a sand and gravel operation for environmental violations. The agency says the fine was necessary because Zimmerly Rock Products has a long history of failing to comply with environmental standards.

Ecology says the most significant environmental problem with Zimmerly's operations occurred in November 1996. The Washougal company's stormwater detention pond failed, causing more than 3 million gallons of turbid, sediment-laden process water and stormwater to pour into Gibbons Creek, covering critical spawning gravel. The creek runs through the Lake Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge.

Scott Morrison, Ecology's sand and gravel permit manager for southwestern Washington, said millions of dollars had been spent to restore fish-spawning habitat in Gibbons Creek.

"It may take years for the area to recover," Morrison said.

Zimmerly Rock Products is owned by David Zimmerly. In June, Zimmerly turned over the operation of his Washougal rock quarry to CSR Associated, the parent company of Associated Sand and Gravel. Ecology gave CSR until the end of September to bring the rock quarry into environmental compliance.

Morrison said Zimmerly hired three separate environmental consultants -- David J. Newton & Associates Inc. of Portland, Applied Ecosystem Services Inc. of Portland, and H2O Data Inc. of Vancouver -- to help solve the discharge problems at his rock quarry, but to no avail.

Zimmerly may ask Ecology to reduce or withdraw the fine. He also may file a formal appeal with the Pollution Control Hearings Board.

Neither Zimmerly nor his attorney could be reached for comment Monday.

AESI adds four professional staff members

KIRKLAND -- Associated Earth Sciences Inc. (AESI) recently added four people to its professional staff.

G. Aaron McMichael has joined AESI has a senior project geotechnical engineer. McMichael has more than 11 years experience completing geotechnical studies throughout the Pacific Northwest. His past projects include residential plat development, commercial and office buildings and industrial facilities.

McMichael is experienced in foundation investigations and design, ground improvement methods, slope stability assessment and landslide mitigation. He also has extensive experience in pile foundation design, reinforced earth fills and use of geotextiles.

Jennifer B. Goldsmith has joined AESI as a water quality project scientist. Goldsmith has more than seven years experience conducting environmental assessments in the Pacific Northwest.

Her professional experience includes groundwater and surface water quality sampling, development of water quality monitoring programs, analysis of water quality data, impact prediction, and stormwater modeling. She also participated in Washington State Watershed Assessments by preparing analyses of riparian function and temperature.

Thomas J. Shugrue has joined AESI as a water quality senior staff biologist. A former science teacher from Oregon, Shugrue has more than six years professional experience monitoring surface and groundwater quality and quantity. He has worked on numerous projects to document and interpret water quality associated with real estate developments and golf course construction.

Timothy J. Peter has joined AESI has a senior staff environmental geologist. Peter has more than eight years experience in hydrogeologic investigations, underground storage tank assessments and decommissioning, and remediation of contaminated sites. He has worked on numerous golf courses, gas stations and bulk fuel facilities.

AESI is a geotechnical and environmental consulting firm with offices in Kirkland and Bainbridge Island. Established in 1981, the company specializes in environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, geologic consultation, environmental biology and geologic hazards. AESI has a professional staff of 43.

Environmental law handbook is available

SEATTLE -- Preston Gates & Ellis has prepared the latest edition of the Washington Environmental Law Handbook, a desktop reference that covers all major topics related to Washington environmental law.

The new edition provides a comprehensive overview of current Washington environmental laws, regulations and statutes, which have changed significantly since the last edition was released in 1992.

The handbook includes extensively rewritten chapters on growth management, the State Environmental Policy Act, administrative procedures, shoreline and coastal zone management, air quality, water quality and hazardous waste management. The handbook also features a new chapter covering the complex area of water resources, as well as clear explanations of specific laws, regulations, required permits and potential penalties.

To receive a copy for $95, contact: Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, Attn: Environmental Publications, 701 Fifth Ave., Suite 5000, Seattle, WA 98104-7078, (206) 623-7580.

Smoke in air brings rash of complaints

SPOKANE (AP) -- Heavy smoke in the air of the Inland Northwest last week brought a flood of calls to air-pollution officials on Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

There was lots of finger-pointing over who was to blame for the pollution.

Culprits include a 350-acre intentional burn on the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge near Cheney, plus grass-seed farmers in the midst of the annual burning of their fields.

One Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority official is blaming the weather for trapping smoke in the area.

While grass growers are blaming the Turnbull fire, officials for the wildlife refuge say all their smoke went west, away from Spokane.

Patricia Hoffman, a clean-air activist, is angered by the blame game.

"There's 40,000 acres of grass fields being burned within a 40-mile radius of Spokane, and tens of thousands of acres of wheat stubble," she said. "You don't have to go look much further."

The field-burning season ended Thursday in Idaho, but continues in Washington.

Environmental Watch

Ecology approves some Crown Jewel permits

YAKIMA -- The state Department of Ecology has approved seven permits and one draft permit for Battle Mountain Gold Co.'s proposed Crown Jewel Mine in northeast Okanogan County.

These are the first of many permits requiring decisions from Ecology. A difficult-to-obtain water-rights permit crucial to the future of the mine is expected to be ruled on by Ecology in about two weeks.

Ecology approved five dam safety construction permits and two construction stormwater permits Friday. The dam safety construction permits are required in order to construct water and mine-tailings holding structures at the site.

Ecology also issued a draft permit that addresses the protection of air quality during construction and operation of the mine. The draft permit has triggered a 30-day public comment period that begins Sept. 25 and ends Oct. 27. A public hearing on air-quality issues is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 15 in Oroville.

Several environmental groups and the Colville Confederated Tribes are opposed to the Crown Jewel Mine, which would be the first open-pit gold mine in the state. Gold would be extracted from ore using cyanide.

The mine would operate at the top of Buckhorn Mountain, located northeast of Chesaw near the Canadian border. A 138-acre wide pit would be blasted into the mountain, removing about 100 feet from the mountaintop.

The gold mine is being proposed by Houston-based Battle Mountain Gold Co. and Denver-based Crown Resources. Crown Resources discovered the gold on Okanogan National Forest land and now owns the mineral rights to it.

David Mann is president of the Washington Environmental Council, one of the groups opposed to the mine. He said he is not overly concerned about Ecology's approval of the dam safety construction permits and construction stormwater permits.

"In terms of overall importance for the project, these are fairly insignificant permits," Mann said. "Let's see what happens when water quality and water rights issues are addressed."

To submit comments or receive more details about the public hearing, contact: Robert Swackhamer, Department of Ecology, Central Regional Office, 15 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98902-3401, (509) 575-2804.

Conference on wetlands regulations

SEATTLE -- "Washington Wetlands," a two-day conference examining recent changes to federal, state and local wetland regulations, is scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17 at Cavanaugh's Inn on Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle.

The conference is designed for lawyers, consultants, engineers, real estate developers and government officials. The program is being co-chaired by Brent Carson of Buck & Gordon and Alison Moss of Bogle & Gates.

"Wetlands continue to have a dramatic effect on land use and development," Carson said. "It is critical to understand the importance placed on wetlands by the enforcement and regulatory community."

Speakers at the conference will include: Jerry W. Alb of the Washington State Department of Transportation; Marc Boule of Shapiro & Associates Inc.; Anthony Jay Bredberg and Richard C. Herriman of Bredberg & Associates Inc.; Laura C. Casey of the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services; Gary K. Jones of Emerald Downs; Ronald D. Kranz of David Evans & Associates; T.J. Stetz of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Richard L. Clark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The conference is being sponsored by Law Seminars International. To register or receive more information, call (206) 621-1938 or (800) 854-8009, or send e-mail to: hkate@lawseminars.com.

Pentec announces new staff additions

EDMONDS -- Pentec Environmental Inc., an Edmonds environmental consulting firm that focuses on port and waterfront development and natural resources management, has announced the following staff additions:

o Joanne Krepela has joined Pentec as a project coordinator. She will provide project management assistance, including scheduling, cost control and document support.

Krepela has more than five years experience coordinating marine- and sediment-related projects in excess of $1 million. She has served as project coordinator for the U.S. Navy's Everett Homeport project, and she handled Puget Sound Dredged Disposal Analysis dump site monitoring for the state Department of Natural Resources.

o Darrel Weiss is Pentec's new lead word processor. He will work closely with the firm's project coordinators and produce reports, marketing materials, style guides and templates.

Tremaglio joins EcoChem Inc.

SEATTLE -- EcoChem Inc., an environmental chemistry consulting firm that provides quality assurance support for environmental investigations, has hired Richard A. Tremaglio to lead the company's environmental data management services.

Tremaglio has seven years experience providing multimedia environmental compliance audits, chemistry analysis, data validation and data management. He also has seven years of environmental field experience, including field sample analysis, unknown sample hazard characterization, soil and sediment sampling, and surface, discharge and groundwater sampling and modeling.

EcoChem has 16 employees who work on projects across the United States. Based in downtown Seattle, the company recently moved its offices to the Westland Building at 100 S. King St., Suite 405.

Redmond, Corps to restore Bear Creek

REDMOND -- The city of Redmond and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will have an open house Oct. 7 to explain their proposed environmental restoration plan for the lower 3,000 feet of Bear Creek.

The section of Bear Creek was deepened and armored by the Corps and King County in the 1960s as part of a flood control project for the Sammamish Basin. The proposed restoration project would attempt to improve habitat for salmon and wildlife without affecting the area's flood-control capability.

The project will reduce stream velocities by recreating channel meanders and pools and providing large woody debris and natural vegetation along the channel. Scheduled for the summer of 1998, project construction would cost approximately $1.7 million to $2 million.

The open house will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the Clyse Mansion in Marymoor Park in Redmond. Representatives from the city and the Corps will be available to answer questions. For more information, call Linda Smith at the Corps at (206) 764-6721.

Warner-Lambert pleads guilty for polluting

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Warner-Lambert Inc. pleaded guilty Friday and was fined $3 million for falsifying reports on the levels of pollutants released from a wastewater treatment plant in Puerto Rico, the Justice Department said.

The pharmaceutical company also will pay a $670,000 civil penalty for releasing excessive levels of pollutants from 1992 to 1995, violating its wastewater discharge permit 347 times, Justice officials said in a written statement.

The plant's supervisor, Juan Ruiz Orengo, pleaded guilty to similar charges and could be sentenced to up to 27 months in jail. He was responsible for collecting and analyzing wastewater samples for 34 different pollutants, including fecal coliform, metals, oil and grease, the department said.

The facility now is in compliance with the law and "seems to have changed its corporate attitude towards environment law," said Jeanne M. Fox, an Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator.

Environmental Watch

Sustainable Building Northwest

SEATTLE -- "Sustainable Building Northwest -- Breaking Through the Barriers," a regional conference and trade show designed to promote sustainable practices in the Northwest, is set for Oct. 27-29 at Seattle Center.

More than 500 government officials and professionals from the environmental and construction industries are expected to attend. The conference will address: sustainable design, building and development; the economics of sustainable building; and tips on how to conserve energy, use resources wisely and protect indoor and outdoor environmental quality.

Keynote speakers will include: Paul Hawken, an internationally-recognized environmentalist and author who is a consultant to several major corporations; David Gottfried, president of Gottfried Technology Inc. and founder of the U.S. Green Building Council; Alana Probst, vice president and director of economic development at Ecotrust; and Ray Anderson, CEO of Interface Inc., a sustainable carpet and tile business.

The event will feature a trade show and a variety of technical sessions and workshops.

To register or receive more information, contact: O'Brien & Co., P.O. Box 10705, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, (206) 842-8995, obrien@halcyon.com.

Public forum on Rayonier plant closure

PORT ANGELES -- Anyone interested in the demolition activities at the Rayonier pulp and paper mill in Port Angeles is invited to attend a public forum Sept. 23 at the Vern Burton Community Center, 321 E. Fifth St., Port Angeles.

The forum will begin with an open house at 3 p.m., followed by a short presentation and public discussion at 7 p.m.

The forum will cover:

• how and when demolition and disposal of mill structures and cleanup of the mill site will happen;

• which agency oversees each action;

• the process for evaluating potential hazards;

• potential health risks from known or expected contaminants; and

• how to stay informed about site activities and public involvement opportunities.

The forum is co-sponsored by the city of Port Angeles, Clallam County, Elwha Klallam Tribe, Olympic Environmental Council, Port of Port Angeles, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Ecology and Rayonier Inc.

For more information, call Delores Mitchell at the Department of Ecology at (360) 407-6057.

Willamette River chosen for revitalization

WASHINGTON -- Declaring rivers "the lifeblood of our nations," President Clinton launched an effort last week to designate 10 waterways as American Heritage rivers that will get extra federal attention.

A designation under the program will allow communities, through a liaison called a "river navigator," to tap existing federal resources and expertise in protecting and restoring the waterway. The first designations were expected to be made early next year.

Although local communities would have to seek the designation for specific rivers, some Western lawmakers oppose the program, fearing it will lead to the government having greater say in use of private land.

Rep. Helen Chenoweth, R-Idaho, who chairs the House Resources subcommittee on forest health, called it "yet another layer of a nebulous and unauthorized bureaucracy" that could threaten property rights. She has sought to block funds for the program.

But Clinton said the American Heritage Rivers Initiative, created by executive order, is "a big deal to millions of people" who care about great cities built on riverbanks. He said when he leaves office, he wants to work with a project to "restore and enhance" development along the Arkansas River in Little Rock.

Efforts to get an American Heritage designation already are under way for at least five rivers, including the Willamette River in Oregon. The other four rivers are: the Yellowstone River in Wyoming; the Upper Mississippi River, which flows from northern Minnesota to St. Louis; the Connecticut River in New England; and the French Broad River in North Carolina and Tennessee.

Envirogen wins biofiltration contract

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. -- Envirogen Inc., an environmental systems and services company based in New Jersey, has been awarded a contract valued at $1.8 million by Waste Management of New York (WMNY) for the design, installation and operational assistance of a large-scale biofiltration odor control system.

The contract calls for Envirogen to provide a turnkey biofiltration odor control system to treat up to 82,000 cubic feet of air per minute.

The system will be installed at a municipal waste/biosolids composting facility that WMNY is constructing and will operate for Rockland County in New York. The installation and startup of the biofiltration system will take about a year.

Biofiltration is an air treatment technology that has been used in Europe for nearly 20 years and is now being used in the United States and Canada. The technology uses microorganisms that consume contaminants as food. Byproducts of biofiltration include water, carbon dioxide and salts.

German car makers focus on environment

FRANKFURT, Germany -- Small is big at this year's International Auto Show, as traditional German car makers turn their technology to making more compact, environmentally-friendly cars.

Smart, the bright, urban mini-car that looks like it drove right out of the Internet, made its debut last week after three years in production. Combining Mercedes-Benz technology and the Swatch watch company's pop design, Smart aims to revolutionize the way compact cars are made.

The roadster is produced by Micro Compact Car, a joint venture between Swiss watchmaker SMH and Daimler Benz, parent company of Mercedes-Benz. It's expected to go on sale in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland in March 1998 and will cost 16,000 to 20,000 DM ($9,000 to $11,100).

Mercedes also introduced two new small cars of its own, a futuristic four-door subcompact and a sport utility vehicle designed for the U.S. market. A third car, the CLK coupe, completed the company's auto show premiers.

The Mercedes subcompacts, know as the A-Class can seat five people and are designed to be environmentally-friendly and economical cars with all of the comfort and safety features of a traditional large Mercedes.

The CLK coupe is more like a traditional Mercedes sedan, although somewhat smaller and with a line that slopes towards the front, giving it a sporty look.

The M-Class is a hybrid sport utility vehicle that looks like a sleek truck and is supposed to drive like a car. It is the first Mercedes to be produced outside of Germany, at a newly built plant in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

American car-makers introduced sports cars and sedans designed to be competitive on the European market, and Chevrolet unveiled its latest Corvette convertible and a 1998 Camaro with a powerful V-8 engine.

Cadillac showed its new Seville, with an automatic transmission technology designed to perform like a manual gearbox.

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