Environmental Watch: Skillings-Connolly adds fisheries specialist

LACEY -- Skillings-Connolly has hired Michael McGinnis to join the environmental team of the Lacey-based engineering and environmental consulting firm. He was fisheries manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation where he developed the Tribal Fisheries Program; the Tribal Restoration Program; and the Timber, Fish and Wildlife Program. He managed and implemented more than 75 habitat restoration projects; consulted with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries services; and participated on multi-agency fish and watershed management projects.

He also has experience in hatchery management in Washington and managed a fish culture project in Zaire.

Bamboo flooring company hires CFO

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND -- TimberGrass LLC, which calls itself the nation’s leading manufacturer of bamboo floors and building products, named Donald Markey chief financial officer.

Markey has more than 20 years of management and financial leadership experience with fast-growth West Coast companies. Most recently he was executive vice president and CFO for Pinnacle Realty Management Co. in Seattle.

TimberGrass officials say the company has doubled its sales every year since the company was founded in 1994.

BBL's Seattle office has a new VP

SEATTLE -- Civil engineer Kris Fabian has joined Blasland, Bouck & Lee Inc.'s Seattle office as a vice president.

Fabian, who has a doctorate degree, was hired as part of the company's plan to expand its port and harbor team. BBL officials say demand from port authorities and waterfront businesses for engineering and scientific expertise is increasing nationwide.

According to the company, Fabian is a leader in the fields of contaminated sediment management, and geotechnical engineering and remedial design. His experience includes management and execution of large projects under CERCLA and state regulatory requirements.

Nooksack dam removal being studied

BELLINGHAM -- City officials are weighing whether to rip out a 40-year-old diversion dam on the Nooksack River's Middle Fork to improve chinook salmon habitat.

The city, Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe have been thinking about building a fish ladder, but that could cost up to $9 million, according to a Bellingham Herald report. Plus, the city faces an additional $3 million worth of repairs to the dam.

The dam forces water into a tunnel and pipeline that empties into Lake Whatcom, helping to regulate the city's water reserves.

The city and tribes could avoid those costs by removing the dam and using a simple intake pipe upstream from the dam to funnel water into the lake, which is the source of drinking water for 85,700 people. City officials estimate removing the dam and installing an intake pipe would cost between $3 million to $4 million.

The city has hired Northwest Hydraulic Consultants of Seattle to start investigating the options, including removal of the dam.

Parks turn to 'e' technology to save cash

SEATTLE -- Low-flush toilets in restrooms, computer-controlled lighting at athletic fields and self-compacting trash cans are helping King County cut costs and preserve natural resources at parks.

Low-flow toilets, paid for with grants, will be installed at the Renton Pool this month. Each toilet saves about 3 gallons per flush. Eventually all county pools will have low-flow toilets, waterless urinals and timed showers.

Computerized lighting has been installed at five South King County sites. The system, which cost $73,000 to install, is expected to pay for itself in about 2 1/2 years through annual savings of $31,731, officials estimate.

Fifty self-compacting garbage cans have been installed at Marymoor Park in Redmond. The receptacles go below the ground's surface, allowing more trash to be stored for longer periods, thereby reducing labor costs. The cool, subterranean temperatures mean the garbage will decompose more slowly. In addition to saving costs and preserving natural resources, the cans are designed to generate revenue with advertising space.

'E' camps for grownups this summer

ENTERPRISE, Ore. -- Count hawks, study wildflowers or help restore a wilderness cabin this summer at new camps for grownups.

The nonprofit group Wallowa Resources, U.S. Forest Service and other groups developed the camps.

Raptors Above the Zumwalt Prairie is a horseback trip offered May 30 - June 1 and June 6 - 8. Campers will help track annual recruitment of hawks and other raptors. During Wildflowers on the Grande Ronde River, from June 12 -15, campers will leisurely raft on the river, learn about native plants, pull weeds and perform basic beach cleanups. Participants in Wilderness Cabin Restoration Sept. 8 -12 will learn restoration techniques at the Standley Guard Station cabin in the Wallowa Mountains.

For information, write Wallowa Resources, P.O. Box 274, Enterprise, OR 97828, wallowar@oregonvos.net or phone (541) 426-8053.

'E' events on tap for the coming weeks

SEATTLE -- The following environment-related events are planned:

"Green Mortgages: Financing Green Homes" is the topic of the EcoBuilding Guild's 7 p.m. Wednesday meeting in the basement of the brick building behind Seattle's Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. Dave Porter of Countywide Home Loans will discuss energy-efficient mortgages, which offer extra buying power based on energy savings, and Dianne Wasson of HomeStreet Bank will discuss location-efficient mortgages, which offer larger loans to borrowers who buy homes near their place of work. The meeting is free for guild members and $5 for non-members.

The Northwest Environmental Training Center will present the daylong "SEPA and NEPA -- Nuts and Bolts Workshop" at 8:30 a.m. April 30 at the Mountaineers Conference Center, 300 Third Ave. W., in Seattle. Instructors are Valerie Lee of Environment International and Brian Shea, planning building division director of Grays Harbor County. Cost is $175, with discounts available. For information, click on Events and Training Programs at www.nwetc.org or call (206) 762-1976.

Environmental Watch: Lacey company hires fisheries specialist

LACEY -- Skillings-Connolly Inc., has added Michael McGinnis to its environmental team.

Before joining the engineering and environmental consulting firm, he was fisheries manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. There he developed the Tribal Fisheries Program; the Tribal Restoration Program; and the Timber, Fish and Wildlife Program. He managed and implemented more than 75 habitat restoration projects; consulted with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries services; and participated on multi-agency fish and watershed management projects.

He also has experience in hatchery management in Washington and managed a fish culture project in Zaire.

Bamboo flooring company hires CFO

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND -- TimberGrass LLC, which says it's the nation’s leading manufacturer of bamboo floors and building products, has named Donald Markey chief financial officer.

Markey has more than 20 years of management and financial leadership experience with fast-growth West Coast companies. Most recently he was executive vice president and CFO for Pinnacle Realty Management Co., in Seattle.

TimberGrass has doubled its sales every year since the company was founded in 1994.

BBL's Seattle office has a new VP

SEATTLE -- Civil engineer Kris Fabian has joined Blasland, Bouck & Lee Inc.'s Seattle office as a vice president.

Fabian, who has a doctorate degree, was hired as part of the company's plan to expand its port and harbor team. BBL officials say that across the nation port authorities and waterfront businesses' demand for engineering and scientific expertise is increasing.

Accrding to the company, Fabian is an international leader in the fields of contaminated sediment management, and geotechnical engineerring and remedial design. His experience includes the management and execution of large projects under CERCLA and state regulatory requirements.

City considers removing dam on Nooksack

BELLINGHAM -- City officials are weighing whether to rip out a 40-year-old diversion dam on the Nooksack River's Middle Fork to improve chinook salmon habitat.

The city, Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe have been thinking about building a fish ladder, but that could cost up to $9 million, according to a Bellingham Herald report. Plus, the city faces an additional $3 million worth of repairs to the dam.

The dam forces water into a tunnel and pipeline that emplies into Lake Whatcom, helping to regulate the city's water reserves.

The city and tribes could avoid those costs by removing the dam and using a simple intake pipe upstream from the dam to funnel water into the lake, which is the source of drinking water for 85,700 people. City officials estimate removing the dam and installing an intake pipe would cost between $3 million to $4 million.

The city has hired Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Inc. of Seattle to start investigating the options, including removal of the dam.

'E' events on tap for the coming weeks

SEATTLE -- The following environment-related events are planned:

"Green Mortgages: Financing Green Homes" is the topic of the EcoBuilding Guild's 7 p.m. Wednesday meeting in the basement of the brick building behind Seattle's Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. Dave Porter of Countywide Home Loans will discuss energy efficient mortgages, which offer extra buying power based on energy savings, and Dianne Wasson of HomeStreet Bank will discuss location efficient mortgages, which provide borrowers who buy homes near their place of work with larger loans. The meeting's free for guild members and $5 for non-members.

The Northwest Environmental Training Center will present the daylong "SEPA and NEPA -- Nuts and Bolts Workshop" at 8:30 a.m. April 30 at the Mountaineers Conference Center, 300 Third Ave. W., in Seattle. Instructors are Valerie Lee of Environment International and Brian Shea, Planning Building Division director of Grays Harbor County. Cost is $175 with discounts avialable. For more information, click on Events and Training Programs at http://www.nwetc.org or telephone (206) 762-1976.

Environmental Watch: Senior scientist joins staff of Herrera

SEATTLE -- Amanda Azous has joined Herrera Environmental Consultants' natural resources group as a senior scientist specializing in aquatic resources and ecological restoration, including marine and estuarine enhancement and permitting.

Azous ran her own company in the San Juan Islands before joining Herrera. She is co-editor and primary author of the reference textbook, "Wetlands and Urbanization," that CRC Press published in 2001. It presents an integrated approach to evaluating the impact of landscape urbanization on wetland functions.

At Herrera, she will assist with freshwater and marine environmental and engineering projects, including transportation improvement projects for the Federal Highway Administration in Alaska and projects along Washington shorelines.

New book offers stormwater ideas to developers, planners

OLYMPIA -- The state has published a book that outlines ideas to help protect Puget Sound from the effects of development.

The Puget Sound Action Team has compiled examples of what it says are innovative projects, programs and ordinances in "Natural Approaches to Stormwater Management, Low-impact Development in Puget Sound." The book emphasizes a natural approach to clearing, grading and paving sites as opposed to conventional techniques, such as building retention ponds.

Low-impact designs include rain gardens; natural drainage systems; sidewalks and driveways made of permeable pavements; and other projects that filter oil and other pollutants from stormwater runoff.

For an online copy, see www.wa.gov/puget_sound and click on Natural Approaches to Stormwater Management. Free copies also are available by telephoning (800) 54-SOUND.

Fish and Wildlife Service says it lacks cash

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it does not have enough money to meet court-ordered deadlines to develop habitat protection plans for endangered species, MSNBC reports.

The plans could limit logging, farming and urban development in certain areas. The agency aims to meet targets for high-profile species, such as the bull trout, Rio Grande silvery minnow, California gnatcatcher and San Diego fairy shrimp, said Fish and Wildlife spokesman Chris Tollefson.

The agency will ask judges for extensions in about two dozen cases. If extensions are not granted, the agency will run out of money for critical habitat and endangered species listings by July, he said.

Environmentalists counter that the agency refuses to ask Congress for enough money to do its job.

Northwest hydropower projects win honors

WASHINGTON -- The National Hydropower Association has recognized three Northwest entities as exceptional river stewards. For one winner, Avista Corp., the news comes at an opportune time.

Other Northwest winners were Seattle City Light and Tacoma Power.

Spokane-based Avista was honored for fishery improvements to protest habitat and provide passage over natural and human-made barriers on the Clark Fork River in Montana and Idaho.

The award was announced about the same time as news reports stated Avista's proposed settlement with federal regulators over allegations it helped Enron manipulate power prices in California will be reviewed in light of new evidence. In a news release, Avista officials stated they believe the issues raised in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission report already have been addressed.

City Light won for adjusting minimum flows on the Skagit River to mimic the river's natural state. Tacoma Power's wildlife habitat improvements on the Nisqually River were honored.

The 2003 Outstanding Stewardship of America's Rivers report is at www.outstandingrivers.org.

Feds consider boat quotas for Glacier Bay

SEATTLE -- The number of cruise ships and other motor vessels allowed into Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve could be limited, according to a draft environmental impact statement.

The National Park Service will conduct a hearing on the document April 29 at Seattle's Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, 117 S. Main St. An open house begins at 4 p.m., a presentation will be made at 7, and the hearing commences at 7:15.

The draft EIS has five alternatives. Three would set vessel quotas and operating requirements for Glacier Bay proper, and two call for quotas and operating requirements for Glacier and Dundas bays. Besides cruise ships, tour, charter and private boats could be affected.

The Seattle office of Ecology & Environment, is the lead consultant on the draft EIS.

The public can comment either at the hearing or in writing. The comment period runs through May 14.

Copies of the draft EIS and the executive summary are available at http://www.nps.gov/glba. They also can be viewed at the downtown Seattle Public Library. Hard copies and compact disks of the documents can be picked up at Ecology & Environment's office in Suite 1900 at 2101 Fourth Ave. They also can be obtained by writing the National Park Service, 2525 Gambell St., Anchorage, AK 99503; or by calling Nancy Swanton at (907) 257-2651.

Northwest energy alliance takes EPA honor today

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today is naming the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance as a leader in energy efficiency.

The alliance is being honored for publicizing the Energy Star program by encouraging customers to use energy-efficient products.

The market share of these products has continued growing in the Northwest. During the first half of last year, for instance, the number of Energy Star clothes washers sold in the region was 34 percent. That was more than double the national average. The washers use half the water and 40 percent of the energy compared to conventional washers, according to the EPA.

The Northwest alliance is a group of electric utilities, state governments, public interest groups and energy-efficiency industries. The alliance estimates that by 2010, its programs will save enough electricity to offset the need for two new power plants.

Environmental services from a client's perspective

SEATTLE -- The topic of the May 7 Northwest Environmental Business Council's lunch is "Environmental Services: A Client's Perspective."

The 11:30 a.m. event is at McCormick and Schmick's Harborside Seafood Restaurant, 1200 Westlake Ave. N., in Seattle.

Speakers are Jennifer Anderson of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Wayne Grotheer of the Port of Seattle and Jim Parvey of the city of Tacoma. They will discuss what they look for in environmental expertise, how they handle contracts with the environment industry and what they will be needing in environment services.

The cost is $30 for NEBC members and $45 for others. Reservations can be made by telephoning (888) 609-6322.

Environmental Watch: Adolfson Associates makes addition to staff

SEATTLE -- Denise Lathrop has joined Adolfson Associates as a senior planner.

She has more than 17 years of planning experience with expertise managing and developing comprehensive plans, growth management strategies, national and state environmental policy acts and CEQA environmental review documents, regulatory compliance and community involvement. She is lead analyst for the land use, public services and utilities sections of King County’s Brightwater wastewater treatment plant.

Herrera has new civil and 'e' engineering members

SEATTLE -- Herrera Environmental Consultants has added staff to its resources engineering and hazardous materials groups.

Kevin Houck, once a Herrera intern, has rejoined the civil design engineers working on King County's Sweyolocken pump station and siting and conveyance design for the county's Brightwater project.

Julie Howe specializes in environmental site assessments with experience on CERCLA and RCRA projects.

Gina Catarra has expertise in analytical chemistry and wetland science. And Katie Bullock is an environmental engineer specializing in environmental site assessments.

The new staff members work on Herrera's on-call hazardous materials contracts with the state Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Livestock operations need water-quality permit

OLYMPIA -- As a result of a revised federal rule, owners of large-scale livestock operations must apply by April 14 for coverage under a state water quality permit.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ruled that farmers must apply under a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit. Farmers also need to submit an annual report and develop plans for handling manure and waste water.

The rule does give states some flexibility. The Washington Legislature and state agencies are exploring how to address the revised rule.

"We haven't had time to get a livestock program developed in Washington, but the law does require these facilities to apply for permits," said Megan White, a state Ecology official. "Those who want to be on the safe side should get their application in by the deadline."

Applications are available at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/index.html.

ANWR drilling back for another round

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans have revived President Bush's top energy priority, opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, after the Senate rejected it.

Republicans included ANWR drilling as part of a broader package of energy proposals approved last Wednesday by the Resources Committee. While the measure has a good chance of passing the House, it is certain to again run into trouble in the Senate, which rejected refuge drilling by a 52-48 vote two weeks ago.

In addition to Arctic drilling, the emerging House energy legislation would provide an array of financial breaks for oil and gas developers, require increased use of ethanol in gasoline and streamline approval for hydroelectric dams.

Canada may lift offshore drilling ban

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The Canadian government will conduct a scientific review and public hearings that could lead to the end of a long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling along the British Columbia coast.

The decision has cheered economic development boosters, particularly in the province's northern reaches near the border with Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News reports.

According to Canadian government geologists, the Queen Charlotte Basin around the Queen Charlotte Islands could contain as much as 9.8 billion barrels of oil and 25.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Iowa wind project could be world's biggest

DES MOINES, Iowa -- MidAmerican Energy Co. has announced plans to build the world's largest land-based wind project in Iowa.

Information from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories shows MidAmerican’s new wind project will have up to 200 wind turbines at a site to be selected. The target completion date is 2006.

Environment meetings planned for April

SEATTLE -- The following meetings are scheduled:

• IslandWood on Bainbridge Island is hosting two courses this weekend. Bert Gregory president of Mithun Architects+Designers+Planners, presents "Sustainable Design at IslandWood" Saturday, and Henning Gatz president of Aquacare Environment, presents "Ecological Wastewater Recycling Systems" Sunday. Both are 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and cost $75. Gregory will discuss current sustainable design principles, and Gatz will explain Living Machines, an advanced water-treatment system that mimics nature by using a diverse ecology to treat wastewater for reuse as irrigation and or/toilet flush water. To register: call (206) 855-4300, write registrar@islandwood.org.

• Seattle Public Utilities will host public meetings on the Solid Waste Facilities Master Plan April 15 in Fremont and April 17 in South Park. Both meetings start at 6:30 p.m. The plan will guide improvements to the recycling and disposal stations in the neighborhoods and a possible new intermodal solid waste transfer facility to transport garbage from trucks to trains. The Fremont meeting is at B.F. Day Elementary, 3921 Linden Ave. N., and the South Park meeting is at the SPARC Building, 8201 10th Ave. S. See www.seattle.gov./util or telephone Henry Friedman at (206) 733-9147.

• The first meeting of Adopt-A-Stream Foundation's North Creek Watershed Coalition is 7 p.m. April 23 at Northwest Stream Center Visitors Building, 600 128th St. S.E. in Everett. The group's goal is to make the creek suitable for salmon 100 years from now in the face of expected growth in the watershed. The center is on the south side of McCollum Park, a half mile east of the 128th Street exit of Interstate 5 between Mill Creek and Everett. The contact is Tom Murdoch at (425) 316-8592 or tomm@streamkeeper.org.

• Seattle Public Utilities will host two meetings to solicit input on preparing the new comprehensive drainage plan on managing stormwater. The first meeting is April 14 at the SPARC Building, 8201 10th Ave. S., and the second is April 21 at the City Light North Service Center, 1300 N. 97th St. Both start at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Darla Inglis at (206) 733-9196, write drainage.plan@seattle.gov or see "What's new" at www.seattle.gov/util.

Environmental Watch: UI wins Clean Snowmobile Challenge

Photo courtesy of Brian Parmeter/Michigan Technological University The University of Idaho's Cleaner Beemer competes in last month's clean snowmobile competition.

MOSCOW, Idaho -- The University of Idaho's black and green championship Clean Snowmobile is the cleanest, fastest and quietest racing sled in North America.

That was proved when the BMW-powered 4-stroke Arctic Cat swept the 2003 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge last month. It won first overall and awards for best fuel economy, quietest snowmobile, best performance, lowest emissions and best value.

The win should come as no surprise. Idaho's Arctic Cat was the defending champion from last year's Challenge.

The UI team of engineering students competed against a dozen other teams from across North American at Michigan Technological University. The goal was to design a machine that reduces emissions and noise while maintaining or improving snowmobile performance.

Against the control snowmobile, the Idaho entry's gas mileage was 131 percent lower, its carbon monoxide emissions were cut by 93 percent, and unburned hydrocarbons were decreased 98 percent.

More additions at Herrera Environmental

SEATTLE -- Herrera Environmental Consultants continues to add staff members. The latest additions, Jennifer Goldsmith, Michael Cawrse and Alex Svendsen, join the Water Quality Group.

A company spokesperson says that while the company is growing, some of the additions were made last year but not announced until recently.

The additions are "reflective of the growth of the last year and a half," said Herrera Marketing Director Carla Cassidy. "It's almost every discipline that we offer. In our case, I think it's a matter of pleased clients." As examples, she cited on-call clients such as Seattle Public Utilities, the General Services Administration and the Federal Highway Administration.

Goldsmith specializes in developing water quality monitoring programs, water quality data interpretation and impact assessment, and storm water analysis.

Cawrse is an environmental scientist specializing in water quality and aquatic habitat. He joined Herrera last year after several years with the Skagit County Department of Public Works.

Svendsen's expertise includes water quality, environmental restoration and remediation.

Bellevue to review critical areas policy

BELLEVUE -- The draft recommendations on Bellevue's Critical Areas policies will be reviewed during a 6:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday at Highland Community Center, 14224 Bel-Red Road.

City officials say the policies protect Bellevue's most important and sensitive environmental features, including wetlands, streams and steep slopes. The work is part of a Growth Management Act requirement to include best available science in developing regulations to protect critical areas.

The City Council appointed a citizens' advisory committee to draft the recommendations. The city also hired consultants for the work. The prime contractor is Adolfson Associates of Seattle.

Tomorrow night's meeting starts with an open house. At 7:30 there will be a presentation, which will be followed by a public comment period. More information is available by clicking on "What's New" at http://www.cityofbellevue.org/planning.asp.

DNR wants help with 'green certification'

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Washington State Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland has invited independent organizations that provide "green certification" to work with the Department of Natural Resources to recognize what he calls the high standard of forestry in Washington.

"Washington already adheres to some of the highest standards of forestry in North America, standards which meet or exceed many certification guidelines," Sutherland said at the recent Certification Watch Conference in Vancouver, B.C. He believes that recognizing these standards would benefit consumers, foresters and organizations that promote responsible forestry.

"Following Washington’s guidelines, we can meet consumer demand in a way that is sustainable and protects healthy ecosystems," he said.

Groups such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council advise foresters on sustainable management of forests and indicate to consumers that the timber has been harvested to meet their standards.

Recognizing Washington’s current standards would allow certification organizations to increase the supply of "green certified" lumber available to consumers and increase demand for these products.

Rodda Paint says it's in the LEED

PORTLAND -- Rodda Paint claims it is the first manufacturer to offer a full line of paints that help builders qualify for credit under the LEED program.

In a press release Rodda said its Horizon line of zero-VOC interior and low-VOC exterior paint is the only full line to earn the stamp of approval from Green Seal, the national organization that certifies products that are less harmful to the environment.

Environmental Watch: Herrera natural resource group hires two

SEATTLE -- Herrera Environmental Consultants has two new staff members in its natural resources group.

Hennessey

Wozniak

Diane Hennessey works on wetland, stream and wildlife studies; natural resource planning and policy development; permitting; and environmental impact analysis. She prepared preliminary wetland, stream and wildlife studies and developed GIS maps for siting King County's Brightwater Wastewater Treatment facility.

Josh Wozniak joined the group last year. Among his areas of expertise are vegetation mapping and analysis, wetland evaluations, Endangered Species Act compliance,and NEPA and SEPA analysis. He evaluated biological resource implications for siting Brightwater.

New ESA office established in Portland

PORTLAND -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) has created a division at its Portland office to develop plans to recover salmon and steelhead protected under the Endangered Species Act in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

Robert Walton has been selected to lead the Salmon Recovery Division. Previously, he was assistant manager of the Public Power Council in Portland.

The division will have an initial staff of about 15 and will also coordinate salmon plans in the sub-basin, inland salmon harvests and hatchery policies.

Walton has been Alaska’s state ombudsman, an analyst for Earth Resources Co. of Alaska and a committee staff member for the Washington state Senate.

Ecology burn program wins EPA award

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has honored the state Department of Ecology's Agricultural and Outdoor Burning Notification and Information System.

Information about planned ag and other outdoor burning is posted on a Web site so people can plan their activities. The site also provides farmers with information on Best Management Practices for emission reductions.

Ecology officials say that five years ago, they fielded 49 complaints about field burning smoke. Last year, they logged nine complaints.

EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman presented the agency's Clean Air Excellence Award to Ecology's Kary Peterson, Sara Johnson, Kathy Sundberg and Judy Beitel.

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers, many of whose members burn wheat stubble, nominated the program, saying Ecology helped break an impasse over the burning issue.

West Nile seen as a threat to wetlands

OLYMPIA -- A state agency worries that in taking steps to protect themselves from the West Nile virus, Washingtonians may drain wetlands and cause other harm to the environment.

Last year, the virus caused 277 deaths in the United States and reached Washington where two birds and two horses tested positive for the virus that some mosquitoes carry.

The Department of Ecology's advice, issued in a release: "Whatever you do, don't drain wetlands." And don't use non-native fish and other wildlife to control mosquitoes in ponds.

Instead, use a naturally occurring organism, bacillus thuringiensis israelensis -- or Bti -- to destroy mosquito larvae. Bti products can be used as long as the treated water does not drain to natural waters, such as lakes, rivers and ground water. Permits are required to use pesticides in natural waters, including wetlands.

Sea-Tac seeks renewal of discharge permit

BURIEN -- The state Department of Ecology is seeking public input on the proposed renewal and upgrade of Sea-Tac Airport's industrial wastewater discharge permit.

The public comment period extends through April 15. On March 31 there will be a 4:30 p.m. open house, a 6 p.m. workshop and a 7:30 p.m. public hearing at the Criminal Justice Training Center, 19010 First Ave. S., in Burien.

The permit and a detailed fact sheet is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/northwest_permits.html.

The 297-acre industrial stormwater control area removes oil drippings, de-icing chemicals and other pollutants. Treated wastewater flows to Puget Sound through an outfall line. Stormwater from roads and roofs flows to area creeks via treatment facilities. A construction section places controls on storm runoff from projects, including the third runway.

Good news for coho, chinook numbers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- West Coast coho and chinook salmon gathering in the ocean to return to native streams or hatcheries are showing up in historical numbers, according to early estimates from a group led by NOAA Fisheries.

Numbers show estimates for Oregon coastal and Columbia River naturally spawned and hatchery coho salmon up 185 percent over the recent 10-year average. The majority of the returning salmon are from hatcheries and are generally not listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Preliminary forecasts for Washington coast and Puget Sound coho returns are also showing significant increases over recent actual returns. Predictions call for more than 215,500 naturally spawned coho to return to Washington coast rivers in 2003, an increase of 138 percent over 2001 actual returns.

Puget Sound naturally spawned coho are predicted to nearly double 2001's actual returns of 280,000. (Complete 2002 returns are not yet available.) Similarly, the early numbers show high forecasts for many Northwest chinook runs. Columbia Basin summer chinook continue to return at levels not seen since the 1950s.

Government biologists credit favorable ocean conditions, and say conservation efforts are helping, too.

Stevens nail-eating mad over ANWR vote

WASHINGTON -- Consultants hoping to work on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lost a battle in the U.S. Senate last week.

Senators voted 52-48 not to include ANWR drilling revenues in the annual budget resolution.

"I'm mad enough to eat nails right now," Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) said afterwards.

The Anchorage Daily News reported that just before the vote a gasp went up in the chamber when Stevens, chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, warned: "People who vote against this today are voting against me -- and I will not forget it."

Among the seven Republicans voting with Democrats against Stevens were Oregon's Gordon Smith.

Environmental Watch: EnviroIssues grows in Seattle, Portland

SEATTLE -- EnviroIssues is opening an office in Portland and adding staff to its headquarters in Seattle.

The 25-person company consults with government and industry on technical and regulatory projects, providing public involvement, facilitation and mediation, and technical integration services.

Julie Wilson, Ph.D., CIH, has been hired to manage the Portland operation. She was with Landau Associates in Portland and Edmonds, and has served in appointed positions in Washington and Oregon developing state policy and regulations about site investigation and cleanup, and worked with National Academy of Sciences expert committees.

In Seattle, Sarah Brandt has joined the company. She has five years' experience in environmental policy analysis, public involvement and facilitation, focusing on energy facility siting, transportation policy and habitat conservation planning.

Hadley Greene comes to EnviroIssues from the Maritime Heritage Foundation, where she coordinated the 2002 Seattle Tall Ships Festival. She also has served as staff on King County's Wastemobile.

Liana Herron has worked with adults and children in teaching outdoor recreation skills.

Graphic artist Lisa Roeser, formerly of Preston Gates & Ellis, has joined EnviroIssues.

Two new principals at Hart Crowser

SEATTLE -- Hart Crowser has promoted Shane Cherry and Dr. John Herzog to principal, and hired biologist Cory Ruedebusch to work at the Seattle-based environmental and engineering consulting company.

Cherry is division manager for the company's Aquatic Resources Division in Edmonds. He has more than eight years of experience in geomorphology, open-channel hydraulics, stormwater management and sedimentology. He is working on the Swan Creek stream restoration project for the city of Tacoma, the Stafford Creek Corrections Center construction monitoring project, and several projects for the city of Mount Vernon.

Herzog, manager of the firm's Waterfront Services Division in Seattle, specializes in estuarine processes, with an emphasis on sediment quality, waterfront issues, and state and federal regulations. In addition to overseeing the waterfront division, he is working on the Lockheed Shipyard remediation in Seattle, Thea Foss Waterway remediation in Tacoma and redevelopment for the Port of Anacortes.

Ruedebusch is working in Hart Crowser's Natural Resources Division at the Edmonds office. She has worked on habitat and water quality monitoring, and benthic invertebrate collection and identification. Ruedebusch will conduct biological field monitoring, research and analysis, and will assist in updating critical areas ordinances for Snohomish County.

Environmental health scientist joins Intertox

SEATTLE -- Intertox Inc., has hired Dr. Edward G. Choice as an environmental health scientist.

Choice’s areas of expertise include pharmacology and molecular biology. He has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and a doctorate in pharmacology and therapeutics, both from the University of British Columbia. Choice conducted postdoctoral research at British Columbia Cancer Research Center and Stanford University.

At Intertox, Choice will analyze complex risk problems in human health and the environment.

Intertox is a scientific consulting and research firm that specializes in assessing the impact of chemicals and microbes on public health and the environment.

Herrera announces staff promotions

SEATTLE -- Herrera Environmental Consultants has promoted several employees in its Seattle and Missoula, Mont., offices.

Doug Gresham, a specialist in fisheries, environmental studies, water quality analyses, wetland delineations and permitting, has been promoted to senior environmental scientist. He will work as natural resources work group supervisor.

Ardith Lanstra-Nothdurft, RLA, specializes in creating and restoring environmentally sensitive areas. She has been promoted to project environmental scientist and will also serve as natural resources work group supervisor in Seattle.

Tom Parker specializes in upland and riparian restoration projects and has been promoted to senior ecologist and head of the Missoula office. John Lenth has been promoted to senior aquatic scientist. He specializes in water quality, aquatic ecology, aquatic habitat assessment and statistics.

Jose Carrasquero -- a fisheries, marine biology, impact assessment and habitat restoration specialist as well as a regional ESA compliance expert -- has been promoted to senior fisheries and habitat biologist.

Ian Mostrenko, PE, has been promoted to senior civil engineer. He specializes in providing onsite construction engineering services.

Portland sustainability forum May 29-31

PORTLAND -- The 2003 Sustainability Forum is May 29-31 at the Portland Hilton & Executive Tower, and early registration discounts are available until March 31.

Among the scheduled speakers are Lester Brown, founder of the Earth Policy Institute, and Bill Shireman, CEO of Global Futures.

The first two days are for community leaders, government officials, natural resource practitioners, environmental advocates and educators. The third day is free and open to the public. The forum includes a Sustainable Products and Services Tradeshow.

For information, see www.sustainablenorthwest.org or contact Meg Daly at mdaly@sustainablenorthwest.org or call (503) 221-6911, extension 103.

Environmental Watch: Herrera expands restoration services

SEATTLE -- Herrera Environmental Consultants is expanding its ecological restoration services with the addition of staff members Tim Abbe, PhD, RG; Maeve McBride; and Erich Hester.

Abbe is a regional expert in river restoration and leads Herrera's river science and geomorphology group. McBride and Hester are engineers specializing in fluvial and tidal habitat restoration; stormwater and flood control evaluation and design; and watershed water quality evaluation.

The three are working with other Herrera habitat specialists to restore river and coastal ecosystems for municipal, agency and tribal clients throughout Alaska, Washington and Oregon.

Ecology adds 27 sites to cleanup list

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has added 27 properties to its list of contaminated sites targeted for cleanup, and removed four that have been cleaned.

The new sites are in 14 counties: Chelan, Clallam, Island, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Spokane, Whatcom and Yakima.

The four sites removed from the list are in Douglas, Kittitas, Pierce and Thurston counties.

The list is at www.ecy.wa.gov under the March 5 release "Industrial legacy evident in state's contaminated sites list."

Columbia deepening study extended

PORTLAND -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has extended the time line that Oregon and Washington have to respond to the agency's coastal zone consistency determination for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project.

The extra 90 days will allow the Corps and states to work out several issues related to environmental and zoning approvals.

Six Columbia River ports have proposed deepening the federal navigation channel between Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean to allow deeper-draft vessels to transit the river. The project also includes several ecosystem restoration projects.

The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development is evaluating the project's consistency with local planning policies, specifically for Clatsop County. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is evaluating whether to issue water quality certification.

The Washington Department of Ecology is evaluating coastal zone consistency -- specifically for Pacific and Wahkiakum counties -- and water quality certification.

"This is a very complex project and we want the reviewing agencies to have the benefit of the necessary time to consider all available information," said Laura Hicks, the Corps' project manager.

The Corps' record of decision and its agreement with the ports are on hold pending the environmental and zoning approvals.

Baker works on Alaska gold mine DEIS

SEATTLE -- The consulting firm Michael Baker Jr. Inc. assisted in preparing the draft environmental impact statement for Teck-Pogo Inc.'s proposed Pogo Gold Mine Project near Delta Jackson, Alaska.

Region 10 Environmental Protection Agency officials say the DEIS soon will be available for a 60-day public review. The comment period begins Friday.

EPA is the lead agency for the EIS process because the project needs a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The project team also includes the state of Alaska and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

In a related development, Michael Baker Jr. Inc., is embarking on a new phase of business development in Alaska where it has worked for 60 years.

"We are integrating our engineering services with our energy related business," John Eldred, Alaska manager of Michael Baker Jr., recently told Petroleum News Alaska.

EcoAnalysts opens new Portland office

PORTLAND -- EcoAnalysts Inc., an Idaho corporation, has announced the opening of its fourth office, this one in Portland.

The firm specializes in aquatic biology and bioassessment using periphyton (algae), benthic invertebrates, and fish as indicators of water quality.

The 8-year-old company has 35 employees in Moscow, Idaho; Bozeman, Mont.; Woodland, Calif.; and Portland.

The Portland office will focus on aquatic ecology issues using periphyton communities as indicators of stream/river productivity, water quality and habitat quality. Services will include field sampling of periphyton and macroinvertebrates, laboratory processing of periphyton samples (taxonomy and algal biomass measures), data analysis, data interpretation and report writing.

Projects in hand include a fertilization study on the Kootenai River, as well as several smaller bioassessment-related projects.

De-icer saves time, money, environment

EVERETT -- Snohomish County crews have started using a new road anti-icing solution that officials say is better for the environment.

Calcium magnesium acetate, a non-corrosive and non-toxic product, is derived from lime and acetic acid, also known as vinegar. Unlike sand, CMA does not produce sediments that wash into streams, according to Roy Scalf Sr., operations coordinator of the county’s Public Works Road Maintenance Division.

He expects the use of CMA to save money by reducing the labor and material costs of applying and sweeping up sand.

CMA's one drawback is that it leaves dark streaks parallel to driving lanes. This can leave the appearance of wet or icy pavement, which in turn can lead drivers to believe the pavement hasn’t been treated.

Comments due on Thea Foss agreement

TACOMA -- Two consent agreements filed in U.S.District Court officially recognize a commitment by the city, several utilities and 78 other parties to complete the $62 million Thea Foss Waterway cleanup.

The News Tribune last week reported the filing by Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency lawyers came after about 1 1/2 years of negotiations between the parties the EPA identified as responsible for the cleanup under the Superfund law.

The consent decree divides oversight responsibility for the cleanup between Tacoma and PacificCorp, Puget Sound Energy and Advance Ross Sub Co. The other 77 parties have agreed to pay $13 million as their share. The public has 30 days to comment on the documents.

Portland to be featured at ecoroof event

CHICAGO -- Tom Liptan of Portland is among those selected to speak at the first North American Green Roof Infrastructure Conference, Awards and Trade Show May 29-30 in Chicago.

He will discuss a program developed in Portland that encourages the use of ecoroofs to address stormwater concerns and to provide other environmental and economic benefits.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the city of Chicago are hosting the conference. For details, see www.greenroofs.ca.

Events scheduled for the E community

SEATTLE -- The following events are scheduled for the Pacific Northwest:

• The Hazardous/Toxic Waste Management 2003 Certification Workshops will be in the Seattle and Portland areas later this month. The Portland workshop is March 24-25 at the Holiday Inn at the Convention Center, and the Seattle workshop will be March 27-28 at the SeaTac Holiday Inn. For details see www.lion.com/W693; write register@lion.com; or phone (973) 383-0800, extension W693.

• The Revised Industrial Stormwater General Permit, which became effective last fall, is the topic of the Northwest Environmental Business Council's 11:30 a.m. April 2 luncheon at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside, 1200 Westlake Ave. N., in Seattle. For more information, telephone the NEBC at (888) 609-NEBC or see www.nebc.org.

Environmental Watch: Herrera grows planning, permit services

SEATTLE -- Herrera Environmental Consultants Inc. is expanding its environmental planning and permitting services.

Gordon Thomson and Mary Yoder-Williams will provide planning and regulatory review support for numerous projects, including the Seattle Monorail project and Herrera's prime On-Call Permitting Services contract with Sound Transit.

Thompson joined Herrera this year as a senior planner specializing in urban/environmental planning. He has 20 years of senior-level land-use and environmental regulation experience with the city of Bothell and King County.

Yoder-Williams joined Herrera last year as a senior ecologist and environmental planner with more than 16 years of experience in biological assessment and environmental management, including 10 years with the city of Seattle.

Port OKs $5M for Sea-Tac soil work

SEATAC -- The Port of Seattle Commission last week appropriated $5 million to hire an environmental agent to work on soils issues in connection with construction at Sea-Tac Airport.

The agent will deal with contaminated soils and unanticipated field conditions as well as facilitate regulatory compliance.

Currently, the role of the agents is filled by a contract with Parsons Transportation Group. The Commission has approved a competitive procurement for a stand-alone, open order contract to support various projects. Port staff estimate this would amount to a savings of $400,000 over a five-year period.

GLY joins Construction Works

SEATTLE -- GLY Construction of Bellevue has been selected to join King County's Construction Works, a program that provides free assistance and recognition to builders who not only recycle but also use recycled-content materials.

GLY is recognized for its general contracting work on the Microsoft Building 36 project, a 300,000-square-foot high-tech office with 450,000-square-feet of below-grade parking.

To qualify for the county program, GLY pledged to fulfill waste-reduction criteria. For example, the company projects a 75-percent recycling rate of job site waste, including wood, plastic films, metals, cardboard, drywall and ceiling tiles.

GLY is also reusing existing asphalt for backfill and temporary roads, it's minimizing the removal of trees and it plans to prefabricate drywall to minimize on-site cutting and waste while saving on disposal costs.

Berryman & Henigar helps on sewer LID

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND -- The city has selected Berryman & Henigar to help form a local improvement district for new municipal sewers. Company Senior Vice President Gary Bourne adds that should the project proceed, the firm will design the $4-million sewer system.

Three of the affected neighborhoods are beachfront properties, so conventional sewer collection methods are not cost effective, and those areas will be served by grinder pumps. The pumps will be built on private property and maintained by the city so unique construction and LID procedures will be developed.

Berryman & Henigar also will help develop grinder pump standards and assist in public information and community relations.

State Senate mulls Web-permit bill

OLYMPIA -- Legislation that would fund a pilot project to test a Web-based method of coordinating environmental review and permitting is winding its way through the state Senate, with a hearing yesterday afternoon.

The Economic Development Committee passed SB 5694 to the Ways and Means Committee, which will debate the proposal's financial implication. Proponents are recommending $250,000 to fund the pilot project.

Carl Kassebaum, president of CRK Environmental Management of Seattle, came up with the proposal that would start environmental review, design and permitting at the same time and document the process with a single file on the Web.

He said the Governor's Office, the departments of Ecology and Fish and Wildlife, the Association of Washington Business and People for Puget Sound have submitted testimony in favor of the bill. It's outlined in a story "Can the Web help untangle permitting?" in the Feb. 10 DJC.

Show will feature green wood products

SEATTLE -- Furniture makers in the Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Partnership will display their wares at the three-day Northwest Home Furnishings Show that starts Saturday at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

Nearly 100 companies are signed up for the show that is open only to retailers, interior and graphic designers, architects, manufacturer's representatives, importers/exporters and related trades. More information is available at the Web site of the show host, Western Exhibitors LLC & Universal Shows Inc. The address is http://www.weshows.com/index.html.

The Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities Partnership is made up of 30 family-owned wood-products manufacturers from Northern California to Idaho. With about five employees each, the companies work with 15 supporting state agencies and nonprofits that help market products in urban areas. Sustainable Northwest in Portland and Watershed Research and Training Center in Hayfork, Calif., are the group's managing partners.

$1.7M Oregon grants go to river habitats

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- Oregon's $1.7 million share of grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore habitat will go toward replanting native vegetation and removing invasive plants along rivers near Portland and in eastern Oregon.

Projects are targeted for restoring private lands along the Sandy River and other waterways outside Portland and the Silvies River in Harney County in Eastern Oregon.

Key goals include eradicating Japanese and giant knotweed and replanting native species along the Sandy, planting 11,000 trees and shrubs on other streams near Portland and restoring floodplains, wetlands and uplands in the Silvies River watershed.

Oregon will add to the grants with $163,000 in state funds and $3.1 million will come from local supporters.

The grants are part of a $34.8 million national effort, the Landowner Incentive Program, which will allow the state to provide technical and financial help to private landowners.

De-icer saves time, money, environment

EVERETT -- Snohomish County crews have started applying to roads a new anti-icing solution that officials say is better for the environment.

Calcium magnesium acetate, a non-corrosive and non-toxic product, is derived from lime and acetic acid, also known as vinegar. Unlike sand, CMA does produce sediments that wash into streams, according to Roy Scalf Sr., operations coordinator of the county's Public Works Road Maintenance Division.

He expects the use of CMA to save the county money by reducing the labor and material costs of applying and sweeping up sand.

The one drawback of CMA is that it leaves dark streaks parallel to driving lanes. This can leave the appearance of wet or icy pavement, which in turn can lead drivers to believe the pavement hasn't been treated.

B.C., U.S. team up on ecosystem event

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- For the first time, the Puget Sound Action Team and the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative will cosponsor the four-day Georgia Basin-Puget Sound Research Conference that starts March 31 in Vancouver.

The conference will build upon five previous Puget Sound-based events, and a significant objective will be to bring increased focus on the shared nature of the ecosystems.

Hundreds of leading scientists and natural resource managers will discuss an array of scientific and political challenges at the Westin Bayshore Hotel. More information is at http://www.wa.gov/puget_sound/Publications/2003research/RC2003.htm.

Waste workshops set for Seattle, Portland

SEATTLE -- The Hazardous/Toxic Waste Management 2003 Certification Workshops will be in the Seattle and Portland areas later this month.

The Portland dates are March 24-25 at the Holiday Inn at the Convention Center, and the Seattle workshop will be March 27-28 at the SeaTac Holiday Inn.

For further details or to register: see www.lion.com/W693; write register@lion.com; or phone (973) 383-0800, extension W693.

Environmental Watch: May joins marine sciences lab in Sequim

SEQUIM -- Christopher May, Ph.D., has joined the Marine Sciences Laboratory of Battelle's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a senior research engineer. May will extend ecosystem assessment and restoration capabilities in the marine and nearshore environment into freshwater ecosystems, with a focus on watershed analysis, stormwater management, non-point-source pollution issues and salmonid habitat assessment.

He has served as a researcher and adjunct faculty member at the University of Washington and Western Washington University; a private consultant; and technical adviser to the Navy and Department of Defense for stormwater and watershed management issues.

May has been principal investigator on projects including a study to evaluate the impacts of urbanization on aquatic ecosystems and the effectiveness of stormwater best management practices.

Biodiesel legislation introduced in Olympia

OLYMPIA -- A package of four bills aimed at promoting biodiesel is winding its way through the state House.

Sponsored by Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-Mukilteo), the bills would provide tax incentives for the production, distribution and retail sale of biodiesel; require use of biodiesel by state agencies; and launch a biodiesel school transportation pilot project.

The Technology, Telecommunications & Energy Committee has sent the package to the Finance Committee. Sullivan expects the bills to reach the House floor. "There's a lot of excitement about them."

Biodiesel is a clean-burning fuel produced from fat or vegetable oil. One goal is to make the fuel from Washington-grown crops, such as canola and mustard seed. Backers of biodiesel say it is environmentally beneficial, and would boost economically distressed farming communities.

Wind farms may come to Kittitas County

ELLENSBURG -- Two wind energy projects totaling nearly 362 megawatts of potential capacity have been formally proposed for Kittitas County, according to Con.Web.

Texas-based Zilkha Renewable Energy has filed an application with the state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council for an approximately 181.5-MW project between Ellensburg and Cle Elum. It's the first time a wind developer has sought EFSEC endorsement. EFSEC recommendations are forwarded to the governor, who has the final say.

Meanwhile, California-based enXco has applied to Kittitas County for approval of a proposed 180-MW-capacity project north of Ellensburg, near the proposed Zilkha site.

Together these projects would exceed the current 300-MW capacity of Stateline Wind Energy Center in Southeast Washington.

City wins climate protection kudos

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given Seattle a 2003 Climate Protection Award in honor of three City Light programs. The city joins winners from China, India and Korea.

City Light is being commended for its commitment to meeting all of its growth in energy demand through renewable resources and conservation; mitigation of all greenhouse gas emissions from any fossil-fuel-based power; and for its inventory of all corporate greenhouse gas emissions. The city's emissions in 2000 were 60 percent below 1990 emission levels.

Cummins NW joins Clean Cities Coalition

SEATTLE -- Cummins Northwest, a Renton company that distributes Cummins engines, has joined the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition.

Cummins is considered a leader in the development and manufacture of alternative fuel engines in buses, trucks and other medium- to heavy-duty vehicles. Among its products are a propane-powered engine that was the first heavy-duty engine to be certified as an ultra-low emissions vehicle, and a natural gas-powered engine that was the first that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified to meet the agency's more stringent 2004 standard.

Students gear up FutureTruck for national show

MOSCOW, Idaho -- The University of Idaho's experimental "#13 Summit" FutureTruck is headed to the Society of Automotive Engineers Congress March 3-5 to demonstrate the first concept truck with triple-power systems.

The converted Ford Explorer runs on gasoline, electricity and stored hydraulic power.

"We won't have the passive cooling system installed on the roof yet, but the hydraulic-assisted energy system, hybrid electric, modified gas engine and other redesigned energy and emissions features are ready for the show," said Frank Albrecht, the team's faculty adviser.

The team dismantled a stock 2002 Ford Explorer and redesigned it to use less energy and reduce emissions. They are part of a four-year project to re-engineer a conventional truck into a lower-emissions vehicle with at least 25 percent higher fuel economy.

'E' events planned for the Pacific Northwest

SEATTLE -- The following events for the environment industry have been scheduled:

•The South Pacific Chapter of the Olympia Master Builders will host its first Green Building Conference at the Chautauqua Lodge in Long Beach Feb. 28. Kathleen O'Brien of O'Brien & Co. will facilitate the one-day meeting for Realtors, builders, mortgage brokers and municipal leaders. The fee is $65. To register, mail payment to OMB, 1211 State Ave N.E., Olympia, WA 98506. For more information, call (360) 754-0912 or (800) 456-6473.

• The city of Seattle will offer a free two-hour class, Watershed-wise Lawn and Gardening Care, at 10 a.m. March 1 at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. Call (206) 783-2244 to pre-register or see www.phinneycenter.org for more information.

• Ron Bowen a hazardous materials specialists with the state Fire Marshal's Office will speak at the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Academy of Hazardous Materials Management dinner meeting at 6 p.m. March 4 at Seattle's Rock Salt Steak House, 1232 Westlake Ave. N. Reservations are due by Feb. 28 and can be made by writing diana.cull@ci.bothell.wa.us or by calling Diana Cull at (425) 489-4872.

• Environmental Insurance is the topic of the Olympic Chapter of the Northwest Environmental Business Council's 11:30 a.m. March 5 lunch at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside Seafood Restaurant, 1200 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle. Sean McVay of Marsh's Environmental Practice and Kelley George of AIG Environmental will speak. They have experience in structuring environmental coverage to limit liability and costs during complex property transactions, remediation projects, brownfields redevelopments and construction projects. For more information, see www.nebc.org or telephone 1 (888) 609-NEBC.

• Mold: The Next Asbestos is the topic of a daylong continuing education course that begins at 8 a.m. March 11 at The Mountaineers Club, 300 Third Ave. W., in Seattle. The class, which costs $175 for those who register today and $205 after, is for industrial hygienists, safety professionals, physicians, occupational health nurses, public health professionals, attorneys and facilities managers. The University of Washington's Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety is presenting the course. For more information, see http://depts.washington.edu/ehce');">http://depts.washington.edu/ehce, write ce@u.washington.edu or telephone (206) 543-1069.

Environmental Watch: $25-35M Tacoma sediment job to bid soon

TACOMA -- The city of Tacoma will call for bids soon for the Thea Foss and Wheeler-Osgood waterways sediment remediation project.

The estimated cost of the project is between $25 million and $35 million, according to Mary Henley, project manager for the city.

The project is expected to last 30 months and will involve dredging of 525,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments as well as placement of approximately 210,000 tons of capping materials. Disposal options for contaminated sediments include dredging 445,000 cubic yards and construction of a nearshore confined disposal facility or construction of a sediment transloading wharf and upland disposal at a regional landfill.

When the job is posted, information regarding procedures for obtaining plans and specification will be at http://www.cityoftacoma.org/45bids.

Cleanup documents out for DuPont site

DUPONT -- Cleanup documents for the former DuPont Works site, which includes a defunct explosive plant, have been released for review.

These include the remedial investigation, the remedial action plan, the feasibility study, the cleanup action plan and consent decree.

The documents are agreements between the state Department of Ecology, Weyerhaeuser and DuPont Works, which manufactured explosives on part of the site for more than seven decades until the mid-1970s and later sold the 3,200 acres to Weyerhaeuser.

The companies have spent $50 million cleaning up the site and plan to spend another $25 million on the cleanup.

About 180 acres will be a golf course. Areas not set aside as open space will be open to commercial and industrial development, according to the final cleanup plan. Ecology site manager Mike Blum said cleanup and golf course construction are slated for 2006 and development of the rest of the property will follow.

The cleanup plan is to scrape 12 inches of soil from 350 acres and use it to contour about 90 acres of the course. Contaminated soil would be covered with 6 inches of gravel and 12 inches of clean soil. The title to the cleanup site will be deed-restricted to prohibit development of residences, schools, parks or other uses that would attract small children. Weyerhaeuser has developed housing on other parts of the 3,200 acres that were not contaminated.

Much of the work already has been contracted, according to Blum. He said Active Construction of Gig Harbor and Fore Inc. of Maple Valley will be doing the scraping, contouring and capping at the course. HRA is doing archeological work at the site that was occupied as long as 5,600 years ago and later was home to the Hudson's Bay Co.'s Fort Nisqually.

There could be an opportunity for long-term groundwater monitoring, according to Blum, who added truckers may be needed to haul contaminated soil. Waste Management will handle that portion of the work and hire any trucking companies that might be needed, he said.

The public has until April 23 to comment on the cleanup action plan and consent decree.

Panel releases plan for sustainability

OLYMPIA -- A panel on sustainability that Gov. Gary Locke appointed in September 2002 recently released its action plan, calling for the state to create a sustainable development institute.

The panel, led by Constance Rice, executive director of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation, and Bradley Smith, dean of Western Washington University's Huxley College of the Environment, said the state must make "significant changes now if we want Washington's quality of life to improve, not diminish, over the next generation."

The panel's top recommendations are: invest in clean energy, commit to greenhouse gas reduction targets, adopt "green" building standards for all state construction projects, establish goals for state government procurement of sustainable goods, align capital spending decisions to encourage sustainable development, begin to shift the tax burden to promote sustainability, educate the public and document progress.

The panel selected 2030 as the benchmark date by which the state "will embrace a new path forward in which our communities and the economy are steadily thriving and nature is no longer in peril."

One company is actually hiring these days

SEATTLE -- The recession has hurt job growth across the economic spectrum, and the environmental consulting industry is no exception. But one Seattle company, Floyd Snider McCarthy, has several openings.

The multi-disciplinary firm is advertising for civil engineers with experience in site/civil, stormwater and NPDES issues, and scientists to assist senior staff on marine and freshwater sediment sites and uplands remediation projects involving groundwater contamination.

"We have been interviewing candidates to assist with projects we are involved with on the Thea Foss Waterway, at the Todd Shipyards, and our other clients," said Lisa Hunrichs Silvey, an FSM project coordinator.

"The qualifications for these various positions are somewhat specific so we are keeping the search broad for now," she added. "We are and prefer to remain a fairly small firm, so the right fit is important."

EDAW, feds honored for wildlife refuge

SEATTLE -- The Washington state chapter of the American Planning Association has honored the Seattle office of EDAW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their partnership on work at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

The Fish and Wildlife Service enlisted the help of EDAW's Summer Student Program. EDAW is a Seattle landscape design and environmental company. Students helped plan interpretive and educational facilities at the refuge.

The refuge, on the Columbia River in Southwest Washington, expects a large influx of visitors due to the Lewis and Clark bicentennial celebration. So two years ago, officials turned to EDAW's program.

Students, under the guidance of EDAW staff, conducted a workshop to plan development of refuge visitor facilities.

"The students managed to bridge the gap between the many parties involved, satisfying the local community along with the desires of the Fish and Wildlife Service," said EDAW’s Kevin Butterbaugh.

Kinko's copies other green building purchasers

SEATTLE -- Another business, Kinko’s, is getting on the renewable energy bandwagon.

Kinko's is teaming up with Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light and the Snohomish County Public Utility District to convert some of its Puget Sound-area stores to green power.

Twenty-nine stores will purchase from 5 to 25 percent of their power in the form of renewable energy, for an average of more than 626,400 kilowatt hours annually. This offsets carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to driving a car 940,000 miles a year, according to the company.

NW EcoBuilding Guild thinking small

SEATTLE - The Central Puget Sound Chapter of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is hosting a two-hour discussion at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 about the increase in the average size of U.S. homes and its impacts.

Scheduled to speak are Kristian Kicinski of Velocipede Architects, Jory Phillips of Seattle Department of Design, Construction and Land Use, Ross Chapin of Ross Chapin Architects and Jim Soules of The Cottage Co. LLC. A discussion will follow.

The event is in the basement of the brick building behind the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. It's free for EcoBuilding Guild members and $5 for others. For information, contact Thor Peterson at (206) 615-0731.

Environmental Watch: NW snowpack water content declining

SEATTLE -- A warming climate over the last 50 years has, through early melting, dramatically reduced the water content of the Pacific Northwest's springtime snowpack, new research at the University of Washington has found.

"I was surprised at the size of the result," said Philip Mote, a research scientist with the Pacific Northwest Climate Impacts Group at the UW. "There's already a clearer regional signal of warming in the mountains than we expected."

The research shows that from 1950 through 1992, the amount of water contained in snowpack declined steadily throughout the region, as much as 60 percent in some places, Mote said.

In measurements taken each year on April 1 at 145 sites throughout the region, 141 sites registered decreases in the water content of the snowpack, and 90 of them had declines of at least 25 percent.

Readings were taken for another five years at the U.S. sites and those supported the previous data, Mote said. In addition, a computer model that simulated snowpack for part of the region by using actual weather readings from 1915 through 1998 confirms the results.

Most of the decline in water content of the snowpack -- called snow-water equivalent -- is directly attributable to higher temperatures that cause the snowpack to melt earlier, he said. At the nine sites with the sharpest decreases, the cause was a combination of rising temperatures and declining precipitation.

"The losses generally decrease with elevation, especially in the Cascades, which is consistent with a temperature effect," said Mote, who will present his findings tomorrow at the American Meteorological Society's annual meeting in Long Beach, Calif.

"These trends have profound and disturbing implications for water resources in the region, where conflicts over water have already drawn national attention," Mote said.

Turner exec gets new term at GBC

SEATTLE -- Turner Construction's James H. Goldman, a project executive in the company's Northwest business unit in Seattle, has been re-elected to the U.S. Green Building Council's National Board of Directors for a two-year term.

The council is a coalition that promotes buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

Goldman currently serves on the council's Finance Committee and is a frequent speaker on green issues at building industry forums.

He has spent 23 years of his 28-year career in the construction industry at Turner. He is presently managing two construction projects in Boise. One is the Idaho Water Center, an environmental academic, research and institutional office building. The other is Idaho Place, a three-building urban academic campus for the University of Idaho and Idaho State University.

Turner has more than 20 green building projects either completed or under construction in the U.S.

Working with Goldman in Turner's council activities is Michael Iker, Turner's manager of the San Francisco Interiors Group. Iker played a key role in creation of the Bay Area chapter of the USGBC.

NEBC picks officers for 2003

PORTLAND -- Sean Ragin of GeoEngineers Inc. has been elected president of the Northwest Environmental Business Council's 2003 Board of Directors.

Other officers are Vice President Steve Gill of TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering, Treasurer Mark Hanson of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Secretary Craig Trueblood of Preston Gates & Ellis. In addition to the new officers, Tracy Barton of Bio-Reaction Industries was elected to the board.

The NEBC was formed in 1996 as the Northwest regional trade association for the environmental technology and service industry. It has more than 150 member companies in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

City seeks citizen input on water, waste

SEATTLE -- Seattle Public Utilities is offering citizens the opportunity to serve on one of three citizen advisory committees: Solid Waste, Water System, and Creeks and Drainage.

The committees are designed to keep SPU’s director in touch with the community's viewpoints on key issues and advise SPU management on issues related to its primary lines of business.

The committees meet monthly between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. SPU provides staff support to each group. Committee members can anticipate spending between four to five hours per month on issues during their two-year terms.

SPU seeks a diverse representation of residential and business communities, committed volunteers with the interest and skills to advance the issues facing their communities.

Applications should be returned by Feb. 24. Applications are available by calling (206) 684-7666.

PNNL honored for 2 innovations

SAN DIEGO -- The Environmental Business Journal has selected the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as the winner of two 2002 Technology Merit Awards. The Department of Energy lab was the only group to be recognized with more than one award.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's first honor is for the development of Sensor Fish, a 6-inch-long waterproof package of accelerometers, pressure sensors and digital memory. Researchers send the device through the turbines of Columbia River dams to collect never-berfore-captured data on hydraulic conditions that salmon and other species experience.

The lab, along with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, also is being honored for developing a breakthrough application of remote sensing to enable BLM to monitor 262 million acres of Western rangelands.

Remote sensing provides color images to convey information about overgrazing, weed invasion or fire damage.

OSU helping to turn cowboys green

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Students can still learn to be cowboys at Oregon State University.

The school has decided to continue its Department of Rangeland Resources, a college of agriculture specialty that focuses on soils, watersheds, and the ecology of grazing.

The university's plans to disband the program had brought an angry response from the agriculture industry, which claimed the school was bending to pressure from environmentalists.

"We threatened, we kicked, we cussed, and they finally came to their senses," said Glen Stonebrink, executive director of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association.

The program's roughly 20 students learn the science of being a cowboy, studying noxious weeds, the effect of grazing on watersheds and other topics related to cattle rearing, such as the amount of grass consumed by wild geese as they migrate.

Conservation groups have complained that the program's research often favors the state's $422 million beef industry.

OSU's program is the second largest in the country after Texas A&M's. The major is also offered at Eastern Oregon University.

To keep rangeland studies, Oregon State will take money from other programs in the college of agriculture and extension programs, said Thayne Dutson, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Training center offering two workshops

SEATTLE -- The Northwest Environmental Training Center will offer two workshops this month.

Fundamental Chemistry for Environmental Professionals will be Feb. 18 and 19 at the Mountaineers Conference Center in Seattle. The course is for environmental professionals who are not chemists but who are involved in groundwater monitoring, site assessment and remediation, chemical handling and disposal and other issues related to contaminants.

Environmental Applications of GIS will be Feb. 25-27 at Allied Business Systems in Kirkland. The course introduces participants to the environmental application of ESRI's ArcView 8.1 software.

For more information about either course, call Erick McWayne at (206) 762-1976 or see www.nwetc.org.