Environmental Watch: Occidental agrees to Tacoma cleanup

TACOMA — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington Department of Ecology recently signed an agreement with Occidental Chemical Corp. to clean the site of the company's former facility on Tacoma's Hylebos Waterway.

Officials say this location could be one of the most contaminated areas of the Commencement Bay Superfund site.

The agreement calls for more environmental investigation there and on adjacent properties. Occidental will study alternatives for cleanup and design remedies for contaminated soil, groundwater and sediments in Hylebos Waterway.

A related agreement recently announced between the U.S. Department of Justice, EPA, Occidental and the Port of Tacoma, addressed much of the contaminated sediment in the mouth of Hylebos Waterway, but excluded the Occidental site.

Investigations are scheduled to be complete by March 2006. EPA and Ecology will then look at cleanup options and seek public comment.

The facility was used to produce chlorinated solvents called trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene from 1947 through 1973, and chlorine gas and caustic soda from 1929 through 2002. Chemicals remain in soil, ground water and sediments beneath the waterway despite a series of cleanup actions since 1989.

Guidebook on low impact development

OLYMPIA — A manual on how to do low impact development was recently produced by The Puget Sound Action Team and Washington State University Pierce County Extension.

It offers technical information on how to manage stormwater runoff when developing or redeveloping commercial or residential properties in the Puget Sound region.

The "Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound" is targeted to government staff, developers and engineers. The goal is to keep pollution from urban runoff out of Puget Sound.

Low impact development can be done in residential neighborhoods, retail centers, rural areas, strip malls, high-density urban areas and industrial parks.

Techniques include rain gardens, natural drainage systems and parking lots with permeable pavements.

Engineers, academics, landscape architects and Washington Department of Ecology staff have contributed to the manual, which was funded by Ecology.

March 11 workshop on contaminated sites

SEATTLE — Law Seminars International hosts a workshop on "Residential Redevelopment of Contaminated Property" at Renaissance Seattle Hotel on March 11. The focus is on buying, selling and redeveloping contaminated properties for reuse at higher density.

Co-chairs are Mark Larsen, vice president of Retec Group, and Charles R. Wolfe of Foster Pepper & Shefelman. It is targeted at lawyers, consultants, architects, agency representatives, developers and appraisers. Topics include:

• Reducing risk and avoiding stigma

• Cleanup options such as removal, containment, isolation and source control

• Insurance

• Obligations such as future monitoring, sampling and closure.

Law Seminars International provides continuing education programs in the U.S. and Canada. To register, call (206) 567-4490 or (800) 854-8009, fax (206) 567-5058 or e-mail registrar@lawseminars.com. Also see www.lawseminars.com/seminars/05RDCPWA.php.

Built Green conference March 17

BELLEVUE — A March 17 and 18 conference called "Greening the 21st Century" will be held at Seattle Center and hosted by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.

Montana builder Steve Loken, founder of the Center for Resourceful Building Technology, will be the keynote speaker.

A trade show with 40 exhibitors on March 17 will be followed by a tour of four Built Green-certified Seattle homes on March 18. Builders and designers will be on-site to talk about green features, installation, product performance and cost effectiveness. Cost of the tour is $50 per person.

Educational programs include stormwater, energy-efficient construction, green materials, land-use regulations and solar power. There will be workshops on biodiesel fuels, structural insulated panels, rastra construction, rainwater collection, and strawbale and earthen plaster construction. Awards will be given to winners of the Seattle Built Green Design Competition.

The conference is $115 for members, $135 nonmembers or $65 for students. The expo will be free from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more information, see www.builtgreen.net or call Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties at (425) 451-7920 or (800) 522-2209. Also e-mail mba@mbaks.com.

Did Ore. county violate Clean Water Act?

PORTLAND ­— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a $12,100 penalty against Washington County Department of Land Use and Transportation for violating a permit granted under the Clean Water Act.

The U.S. Department of Justice will make a decision on the penalty.

The Class 1 Administrative Penalty would be for permit violations such as not installing and maintaining erosion control measures to keep discharge from entering a wetland or tributary. Measuring stream turbidity at four-hour intervals during in-water work was also required, but wasn’t done, according to the Corps.

The permit authorized removing a 64-foot-long concrete box culvert and replacing it with a single-span bridge 98 feet long and 49 feet wide.

Written comments must be received by Feb. 20 and should be sent to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-G (Justin Simms), P.O. Box 2946, Portland OR 97208-2946. A copy of the proposed penalty is posted at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/penalty/200200212.pdf.

Environmental Watch: Kennedy/Jenks adds engineer

PORTLAND — Kennedy/Jenks Consultants named Brad R. Moore senior water resources engineer in the Portland office. He'll lead technical and business development, and provide technical stormwater support to industrial services clients.

Moore's background is in analyzing stormwater and surface water systems. He has 20 years of civil engineering experience and has designed drainage, water and sewer improvements. He prepared municipal stormwater master plans and specialized in drainage planning, including flood hazard studies, and helped develop regional flood control plans.

Herrera announces promotions

SEATTLE — Herrera Environmental Consultants has made the following promotions.

Mark Johnson is a planning director, Amanda Azous is a science director, Jose Carrasquero is a fisheries director, Paula Fedirchuk is a senior engineer, Craig Doberstein is a senior project manager, Ardith Lanstra-Nothdurft and Jennifer Goldsmith are senior scientists, Chase Barton is a project geomorphologist, Mark Ruebel is a staff engineer, Gina Catarra is a staff scientist, Carol Newlin is a senior technical editor, Sean Robertson is a project GIS analyst, Todd Prescott is a CAD technician, Rhoda Bolton is a senior graphic designer, and Brenda Peterson is administrative staff.

Herrera is an environmental and engineering consulting with 80 engineers, scientists and planners in the Northwest.

Land & Water Consulting joins PBS&J

MISSOULA, Mont. — Land & Water Consulting, a 43-person engineering and natural resource consulting firm headquartered in Missoula, Mont., has merged with PBS&J, an Orlando, Fla., company with 70 offices around the country that is focusing on growth in the West.

Land & Water works on assessing and restoring natural resources in the Northwest and northern Rockies. Its expertise is in stream and wetland restoration, water resources, water rights, and regulatory permitting and compliance. The company has offices in Spokane and the Montana cities of Missoula, Bozeman, Kalispell and Helena.

Land & Water will be part of PBS&J's environmental services division. Paul Callahan was president of Land & Water and is now vice president and division manager.

PBS&J does infrastructure planning, engineering, construction management and program management.

WWU prof writes book on assessing risk

Landis

BELLINGHAM — Wayne G. Landis, director of the Institute of environmental toxicology at Western Washington University, recently published a book on assessing ecological risk.

Landis chairs the department of environmental science in Western's Huxley College of the Environment.

His book "Regional Scale Ecological Risk Assessment" focuses on risk assessment using a model called relative risk. It covers the model, which was developed at Western and has been used to assess ecological risk in the Pacific Northwest and in Brazil, for example.

State updates nonpoint pollution plan

OLYMPIA — The Department of Ecology seeks public comment on updating a plan to manage water quality and control nonpoint source pollution.

Meetings will be in Lacey on March 8, Spokane on March 9, Ellensburg on March 10 and Everett on March 16. A draft is posted at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/nonpoint/nps_plan.html.

Meetings start at 6:30 p.m. Written comments can be sent by March 18 to Bill Hashim, Department of Ecology, Box 47600, Olympia WA 98504-7600. Call (360) 407-6551, fax (360) 407-6426 or e-mail bhas461@ecy.wa.gov.

Ecology will submit a final plan to the Environmental Protection Agency after receiving comments.

Nonpoint water pollution is generated by land uses and activities such as construction, car washing, pet waste and lawn fertilizers.

Grants available for local projects

SEATTLE — King County's Water and Land Resources Division is giving grants for local watershed protection, habitat restoration, reforestation, salmon conservation, stewardship and education projects. Maximum awards are $50,000. Deadlines are March 1 and July 1.

Grants are for projects in King County or south Snohomish County watersheds that flow into Lake Washington or the Sammamish River. Eligible applicants include municipalities, local governments, First Nation communities, nonprofits, organizations, schools and community groups.

A rural community partnership grant gives up to $35,000 for water quality, drainage and water-dependent habitat projects. "Splash" grants of up to $15,000 go to water quality education projects in King County and South Snohomish County basins that drain into the Sammamish River. "WaterWorks" funds are for up to $50,000 for projects that improve or preserve water quality and water-dependent habitat. "Wild Places in City Spaces" grants are for up to $10,000 for urban wildlife habitat and reforestation projects within the urban growth area.

Last year 54 grantees received more than $1.3 million in grants. A new program this year offers $500 and there is no deadline to apply.

For more information, call Ken Pritchard, Grant Exchange Coordinator, at ken.pritchard@metrokc.gov or (206) 296-8265 or (800) 325-6165 ext. 6-8265.

DNR offers free fire-safety video

OLYMPIA — The Department of Natural Resources has a video and brochure available now to show property owners how they can better protect their homes from fire by using fire-safe landscaping materials and techniques.

Master gardener Ciscoe Morris shows landscaping tips in "Naturally Beautiful Fire Resistant Greenbelt Landscaping," which is targeted for groups such as neighborhood associations. For the free video and brochure, call DNR's Sandy Williams at (360) 902-1114 or Nancy Carpenter of State Farm at (253) 912-7257.

Environmental Watch: Golder expands in California, Colorado

Smith

REDMOND — Golder Associates named Cathy Smith engineering group leader and senior engineer in its Redmond office. Smith started as an intern and has been with the company for 12 years.

Golder also opened a satellite office in Mountain View, Calif. The new office manager is William L. (Bill) Fowler, who has 20 years' experience as a consulting engineering geologist and was in Golder's Sacramento office. Kris Johnson has 20 years' experience and does hydrogeology and geochemistry for solid waste landfills and petroleum-impacted sites. Jennifer Panders heads groundwater monitoring services for solid waste landfills.

Golder recently acquired PIC Technologies, a firm with operations in Colorado and Wyoming that specializes in environmental permitting for natural gas pipelines, and oil and gas development. Its six-person team joins Golder's Denver office to consult on pipelines and permitting. Work could include new lines to carry natural gas from new fields in the Rocky Mountain West region, replacing hundreds of miles of aging pipelines, which would require FERC approval, and constructing liquified natural gas import terminals.

Cliff Knitter, a principal in the Seattle office, has teamed with PIC Technologies on projects for Williams--Northwest Pipeline. Golder is a global group of consulting companies specializing in ground engineering and environmental services.

Landau Associates expands staff

Morin

Detamore

EDMONDS — Engineering and environmental consulting firm Landau Associates added Lora "Travy" Moncure as project coordinator, Diane E. Morin as environmental/GIS scientist, Dana L. Olcott as staff geotechnical engineer, Teresa M. Bellevue as executive administrative assistant, Jason W. Detamore as staff scientist, and Nathan B. Moxley as environmental technician in the Edmonds office.

In the Spokane office, staff hydrogeologist Ryan R. Reich returns after studying construction management at Eastern Washington University. James Wilson, a senior staff engineer in Tacoma, passed his P.E. exam.

Landau Associates is an 80-person environmental, geotechnical and natural resources consulting services firm headquartered in Edmonds.

Workshop on resource damage litigation

SEATTLE — Law Seminars International will host a workshop, "Natural Resource Damages Litigation," on Feb. 16 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in Seattle.

The workshop will be led by Bradley M. Marten of the Marten Law Group and Elliott Furst, senior counsel in the Ecology division of the Washington State Attorney General's Office.

Marten and Furst will give tips on bringing and defending natural resource damages claims. Brad Campbell, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, will talk about New Jersey's program.

Topics will include federal, state and tribal claims, strategies to minimize damage liabilities, new topics in groundwater contamination, and natural resource damage banking.

For registration and more information, call Law Seminars International at (206) 567-4490 or (800) 854-8009, fax (206) 567-5058, e-mail registrar//www.lawseminars.com/seminars/05NRDWA.php.

WWU to run with green power

BELLINGHAM — Western Washington University's board of trustees recently approved a student fee to be used to buy renewable energy. A student initiative on green energy passed with 84.7 percent approval. Students and university administrators are studying what's needed to start a renewable energy program.

University officials are set to start negotiations with Puget Sound Energy to buy green energy from Bonneville Environmental Foundation, one of Puget Sound Energy's green power wholesale supplierS.

Vashon, Maury islands forest conserved

SEATTLE — Government and community groups collaborated to conserve 237 acres of forestland on Vashon and Maury Islands. Land was transferred from Washington State Department of Natural Resources to King County.

The transfer includes the 200-acre Island Center Forest at the headwaters of Judd Creek, the 17-acre Marjorie R. Stanley Wildlife and Wilderness Area, and the 20-acre Dockton Forest.

Conserving forest land will help protect Judd Creek and the island's aquifer, and keep green space for Vashon and Maury islands.

Land was transferred through the state Trust Land Transfer Program, which allows the transfer to counties or other public entities parcels of state trust lands that are difficult to manage for natural resource revenue production or that have a high value as open space or parklands.

More than 3,000 privately owned acres are enrolled in King County Current Use Taxation programs and will not be further developed in the near future.

Free pollution spill kits for businesses

SEATTLE — The city of Seattle is offering a limited number of free spill kits to qualifying businesses. The program is being run by Seattle Public Utilities, Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, and Resource Venture, a program of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

A kit and cleanup plan can save money when it comes to dealing with spills, which the Resource Venture says can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 to clean. Kits are useful for businesses that make, store, use or transport liquids and are required if there is a chance pollutants can be carried away by rainwater.

For more information, call Resource Venture at (206) 389-7304 or see www.resourceventure.org/spillkit.htm.

Environmental Watch: Pentec Environmental adds Ormerod

Ormerod

SEATTLE — Derek Ormerod has returned to Pentec Environmental after receiving a master's in environmental engineering from Stanford University. Pentec is the Edmonds office of Hart Crowser.

Ormerod has 10 years of experience in environmental engineering. He is working on computer modeling to reroute a creek in Centralia and erosion computer modeling for the U.S. Forest Service. Seattle-headquartered Hart Crowser is a 150-person environmental and engineering consulting firm.

Wastemobile in Covington Feb. 11-13

SEATTLE — King County residents can bring household hazardous wastes to a three-day Wastemobile event in Covington Feb. 11-13.

Items accepted for disposal free of charge are pesticides, fluorescent bulbs and ballasts, paint products, and automotive products such as oil, antifreeze and auto batteries.

Wastemobile will be at Fire Station #75, 15635 S.E. 272nd St. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is on the south side of Highway 516 (Kent-Kangley Road), one mile east of Lake Meridian. For more information call the King County Household Hazards Line at (206) 296-4692 or see www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/disposal/wastemobile/index.html.

Portland publishers to run energy Web site

PORTLAND — The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance awarded a three-year contract to two groups to run energy outreach programs.

Celilo Group Media and Clean Edge will run a monthly newsletter and Web conferencing service focused on energy efficiency, and renewable and smart energy. The Web site nwcurrent.com launches this month and will cover policy, innovations, news and events.

The target audience includes electric utility management staff, policymakers and energy professionals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

Celilo Group works to expand markets for sustainable products and services and has offices in Seattle, Portland and St. Paul, Minn.

Research and publishing firm Clean Edge tracks clean-tech market trends and opportunities to help investors and policymakers learn ways to profit from emerging technologies. Clean Edge is based in Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance is a nonprofit supported by electric utilities, administrators, state governments, and industry representatives.

Ecology seeks comment on old gas station site

BELLEVUE — Washington state Department of Ecology seeks comment on a proposed covenant removal for the former New Wilson Ford site.

The 2.64-acre site is at 5440 Leary Ave. N.W. in Seattle in an area zoned for commercial land use. It encompasses an area contaminated by petroleum from underground storage tanks. Groundwater is contaminated with chlorinated solvent. The property was used for a gasoline service station, and an automobile dealership operated between 1905 and 2002.

Comments are due Feb. 24. Send comments to Brian Sato, site manager, Washington Department of Ecology Toxics Cleanup Program, 3190 160th Ave. S.E., Bellevue WA 98008. E-mail comments to bsat461@ecy.wa.gov or call (425) 649.7265.

Fluorescent light recycling program starts

SEATTLE — Residents of King, Kitsap, Snohomish and Thurston Counties can recycle fluorescent light bulbs at some local retail outlets through July 18.

"Many residents know that fluorescent lights conserve energy, but not everyone knows they contain small amounts of mercury and should be recycled," said Jeff Gaisford, who manages recycling and environmental services for King County's Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

A list of participating retailers is posted at http://www.productstewardship.net. There are 67 participating stores in King County, including all Bartell Drug and Seattle Lighting stores, Greenwood True Value Hardware, Sammamish Ace Hardware, Junction True Value Hardware and Stephenson Ace Hardware.

Some will not accept fluorescent tubes for recycling. Fees apply, but participants can get coupons for new bulbs in exchange. For more information call Lauren Cole at (206) 296-4363 or lauren.cole@metrokc.gov.

Tacoma raises utility rates

TACOMA — Tacoma residents will pay about $5 more each month for garbage, sewer, surface water and drinking water services this year. A typical customer that has a 30-gallon garbage can, lives on a 7,000-square-foot lot and uses 700 cubic feet of fresh water each month will see his utility bill rise by $5.03.

Tacoma Solid Waste Management raised rates for its residential customers by 8 percent and lowered rates for some commercial customers. Solid waste managers are encouraging residents to switch to a garbage container smaller than 30-gallons as well as use larger recycling containers.

Tacoma city residents will see a jump in price from $5 to $10 for the first 400 pounds of garbage they take to the landfill. Fees pay for transfer facility operations, compaction, tipping and debt service for the Tacoma Landfill environmental cleanup.

Revenue from wastewater rate increases will fund upgrades to the central wastewater treatment plant. Capacity will be increased to prevent untreated sewage from overflowing to Commencement Bay and other freshwater streams.

Water rates will increase an average of 12.5 percent in the next two years. Funds will be used to replace older parts of the water system, meeting federal requirements for treatment, and moving mains because of road-widening projects.

Environmental Watch: Landau Associates promotes seven

Wright

Briggs

EDMONDS — Landau Associates promoted employees in its Edmonds headquarters: Steven R. Wright is associate geotechnical engineer; Brian E. Christianson is senior project geologist; Charles "Chip" Halbert is a senior engineer; Clinton L. Jacob is a senior engineer; and Paul S. Ford is a senior consultant.

In Tacoma, Jennifer W. Olson was promoted to senior staff scientist. Thomas D. Briggs was promoted to senior hydrogeologist and office manager in the company's Spokane office.

Landau Associates is an 80-person environmental, geotechnical and natural resources consulting firm.

Funds offered for drainage, habitat work

SEATTLE — Nominations are due Jan. 31 for projects to restore small habitats and improve drainage in unincorporated King County.

King County's Department of Natural Resources will fund design, permitting and construction of small habitat restoration and drainage projects in streams and wetlands.

Among the projects funded last year were: a fish passage restoration at Ober Creek, culvert replacements on Vashon Island and at Struve Creek near Redmond, and removal of non-native vegetation along a Sammamish River tributary.

Projects were proposed by county staff, private landowners, and community and environmental groups.

To nominate a project, see http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/cposa/shrp/suggest.htm.

For more information on the Small Habitat Restoration Program, contact Mason Bowles at (206) 296-8736. For information on the Drainage and Habitat Improvement Program, contact Doug Brown at (206) 296-8318.

NEBC meeting on enviro liability Feb. 2

PORTLAND — The Northwest Environmental Business Council's Olympic chapter presents a talk in Seattle on environmental liability on Feb. 2.

"Environmental Liability Transfers: A Growing Phenomenon" takes place at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside on Lake Union, 1200 Westlake Ave. N. from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Speakers are Edward M. Belsky of Marsh Environmental Practice and David McMurtry of Shaw Environmental Liability Solutions.

NEBC says there has been more attention on financial accountability, and companies are trying to determine what their environmental liabilities are. Clients are transferring their liabilities in exchange for fixed-fee payments, or are arranging fixed-price "guaranteed" cleanups.

The seminar will look at how these projects are being done, legal structures, insurance packages and examples. Cost is $35, $48 for nonmembers. For more information, contact NEBC at (503) 227-6361 or visit www.nebc.org.

Seattle seeks BEST applicants

SEATTLE — Resource Venture and its partners are seeking applications for their BEST, or Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow, awards. Applications are due Feb. 18.

BEST Awards are given in order to recognize companies doing pollution prevention or conservation work. Past winners include Lake City Florist and the University of Washington.

For more information, see www.resourceventure.org/best.htm or call Resource Venture at (206) 389-7302.

Tacoma training conservation volunteers

TACOMA — The city of Tacoma is offering 40 hours of free training for volunteers through its resource conservation stewardship program.

The program covers natural lawn care, composting, household hazardous waste, recycling and waste reduction.

Classes run on Tuesdays from March 1 through April 26 at the Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S. Tyler St.

Program Coordinator Tom Voigt says people are more likely to change what they do after talking with someone they know, rather than hearing or reading about what they can do. Program graduates spend 40 hours teaching Tacoma citizens how they can change their behavior to help the environment.

Volunteers can apply before Feb. 22. For more information, call (253) 573-2415, or see www.cityoftacoma.org/envirosteward.

Environmental Watch: Herrera expands Portland office

Felstul

Larkin

SEATTLE — Herrera Environmental Consultants appointed Dave Felstul to its Portland office as water resources director. Felstul has worked on six watershed master plans in Oregon and is an expert on stormwater best management practices. He has led water quality monitoring and lake restoration efforts for municipal, state and private clients in western states and Minnesota.

Mary Larkin joined Herrera in Portland as a civil engineer. Larkin's experience is in storm drainage design and transportation projects such as low-impact stormwater management in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. She has also worked on hydraulic and hydrologic analysis, water quality monitoring and permitting assistance.

Brown and Caldwell opens in Kingston

SEATTLE — Environmental engineering consulting firm Brown and Caldwell recently opened a new office in Kingston at 26119 Calvary Lane N.E., Suite 800.

Bob Gatz will direct operations at the office. Brown and Caldwell also added Moe Leavitt to the staff there. Gatz and Leavitt have civil engineering backgrounds and have worked on water treatment, infrastructure and site design. Past projects include the Clearwater Casino and Poulsbo Place.

Brown and Caldwell has other offices in Seattle and Olympia. The Walnut Creek, Calif.-based firm provides scientific and engineering services to government and industry.

Energy firm picks Seattle affiliate

SEATTLE — Energy Automation Systems named Scott Scholz an authorized, independent affiliate in the Pacific Northwest. Scholz owns Seattle-based Energy Saving Systems Trading.

Energy Automation Systems works on electrical energy conservation systems and technology. It is a global network of energy conservation professionals trained to study facilities and provide systems to cut energy costs for commercial and industrial enterprises.

For more information, call Scott Scholz at (206) 331-4435 or e-mail scott@esstrading.net.

EPA spill newsletter online

OLYMPIA — The Washington state Department of Ecology's spill prevention, preparedness and response program has published an online newsletter on spills. Spill Scene is posted at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/spills.html. For a copy, call (360) 407-7211 or e-mail mevo461@ecy.wa.gov.

Portland seeks after-the-fact permit

PORTLAND — The Port of Portland is requesting an after-the-fact permit for discharge of dredged material on West Hayden Island in Portland.

The port requested the permit for discharge of dredged material into 1.19 acres of wetland on West Hayden Island, which occurred when the port was doing maintenance dredging of the Vancouver Turning Basin in 1996.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is issuing a second notice for the permit application. A public notice described the request for an after-the-fact Department of Army permit and was originally issued on June 13, 2001, but because of changes to the mitigation plan and a time lapse, the Corps is providing another opportunity for comments.

If a permit is issued, the Corps will decide on the appropriate compensatory mitigation.

Consultation will occur with NOAA Fisheries and/or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if it is determined the activity will affect a listed species.

Submit written comments by Feb. 3 or get a copy of the the Corps' Public Notice 2001-00062 by writing to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CENWP-OP-GP (Judy Linton), P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208-2946 or call (503) 808-4391. E-mail comments to Judy.L.Linton@usace.army.mil.

New ASHRAE standards are greener

ATLANTA — A new standard on energy conservation is expected to lead to the design of greener buildings, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Minimum energy-efficient requirements have been made more stringent for ASHRAE's lighting, mechanical, climate zones and energy cost budget methods standards. A new appendix rates the energy-efficiency of building designs that exceed minimum requirements.

Environmental Watch: New enviro firm in Bellingham

Burns

BELLINGHAM — Environmental consultant Analiese Burns recently opened the firm Common Ground Environmental in Bellingham.

Burns was an environmental planner with David Evans and Associates, where she managed residential development projects around the north Puget Sound region.

She is accredited under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program and works on master planning for parks, native landscape design, natural stormwater plantings and Endangered Species Act compliance.

Common Ground will target public and private clients for environmental permitting, natural resource assessment and sustainable development. For more information, call (360) 647-8021 or e-mail aburns@cgenvironmental.com.

Gig Harbor basin plan update Jan. 18

TACOMA — Pierce County Water Programs will host a public meeting on the Gig Harbor Basin Plan on Jan. 18 at Peninsula Light Co.'s office, 13315 Goodnough Dr. N.W. in Purdy at 6:30 p.m. Topics covered will be construction projects scheduled and those completed, as well as an update on floodplain habitat acquisition.

Pierce County is also starting groundwater studies for Muck Creek basin.

In response to citizen concerns during the Muck Creek basin planning process, the county has asked 700 property owners in the Graham area for permission to use their wells to monitor groundwater levels. The purpose of the study is to see how groundwater moves between the Muck Creek and Clover Creek basins.

Pierce County Water Programs is working with the environmental consulting firm Brown and Caldwell, and will use the data to design and locate a regional stormwater facility to reduce flooding. For more information, contact senior planner Janine Redmond at (253) 798-7569.

Basin plans are used to prioritize where capital improvements can be made to reduce flooding problems and protect water quality and habitat. For more information, contact Water Programs Senior Planner Barbara Ann Smolko at (253) 798 6156 or outreach coordinator Gloria Skinner at (253) 798-4688.

Groups honored for saving energy

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke recently presented awards for energy management to state and education groups.

The Department of General Administration reports energy-efficiency improvements and better construction by state agencies, school districts and colleges have cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 111,000 tons and taxpayer expenses $7.5 million each year. Electricity use among state agencies is down 10 percent and natural gas use is down 21 percent since 2000.

Locke recognized the departments of General Administration and Social and Health Services; Washington State School for the Blind; University of Washington, Central Washington University and South Puget Sound Community College; and the Kent and South Kitsap school districts.

Pierce County seeks farm advisers

TACOMA — Pierce County has extended its deadline for Farm Advisory Commission applicants to Jan. 31.

The commission's 11 members represent the agricultural economy and agricultural operations in Pierce County. The commission makes recommendations to the county executive and county council on agricultural policies and programs. Commissioners serve four-year terms.

For more information, contact Planning and Land Services at (253) 798-2785. Applications should be returned to Pierce County Department of Planning and Land Services, 2401 S. 35th St., Room 228, Tacoma, WA 98409-7490.

Ecology restores "clean" soil definition

OLYMPIA — When the Associated General Contractors of Washington and other groups opposed a change in the way the state Department of Ecology defined clean soils in a new rule for solid waste management, Ecology restored the original definition.

Ecology Solid Waste Manager Cullen Stephenson said the opposing groups questioned how "clean" and "contaminated" soils would be distinguished. Reclassifying soils for roadside projects, for example, could lead to extra costs for testing and possible delays.

"The issue has gotten to be too contentious, and people are getting more polarized," said Stephenson. But if stakeholders aren't on board as Ecology tries to create a new solid waste management rule, he said, "Ecology won't get there."

Reverting to original definitions is part of an effort to bring the groups back to the table.

New clean soil definitions were adopted in 2003, but Ecology is reverting to the previous definitions. It's taken five years to work with stakeholders to come up with a rule for handling solid waste.

Ecology says it expects to file another rule proposal in the spring. Public comment will be taken through March 2 on the regulations to differentiate between clean soils, contaminated soils and dredged materials. A public hearing will be held Feb. 23 at Ecology’s headquarters, 300 Desmond Dr. in Lacey at 1 p.m. To comment, see http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/304Revcommentform.html.

Comments can be e-mailed to rama461@ecy.wa.gov or sent to Randy Martin, Department of Ecology, Solid Waste & Financial Assistance Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

Ecology OKs Everett barge facility

EVERETT — The state Department of Ecology has approved the city of Everett's shoreline conditional use permit, bringing the city a step closer to constructing the Port of Everett's rail barge pier.

There will have to be further approvals from state and federal groups, but the Port of Everett's executive director John Mohr says construction is set to start this summer, timed to coincide with an in-water construction allowance window.

The rail barge pier would be used to move oversized containers from the port to The Boeing Co.'s plant in Everett, at the same time reducing delays. The project includes public access improvements and beach restoration, and is intended to serve as a model for other shoreline developments within Puget Sound.

The Port of Everett's John Klekotka says $15.5 million in state legislative funds were approved in late 2003 for the project.

Environmental Watch: EcoBuilding Guild Spokane meeting

SPOKANE — The Inland chapter of the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild will present a movie and talk on Jan. 9 at 1 p.m. The talk will take place in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane's Thoreau Room at 4340 W. Fort George Wright Dr. in Spokane, and follows a 12 p.m. luncheon fundraiser for the Environmental Stewardship Group of the church.

Gregory Greene's film, "The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream," will be discussed by Eastern Washington University economics professor Melissa Ahern and Dennis Dellwo, former Washington state legislator and a member of the State Growth Management Hearings Board.

The EcoBuilding Guild says experts on global oil markets predict world production of oil and natural gas will peak within the next five years. The film presents scenarios of how society will be shaped by lack of preparedness in response to that event.

For more information, contact Tom Angell at (509) 747-7647 or tomangell@earthlink.net.

$829K for King County rec facilities

SEATTLE — King County Executive Ron Sims recently announced 25 grants for youth sports and recreation facilities. King County will give $829,000 Youth Sports Facility Grants to organizations that promote youth sports. Grant funds go towards building or renovating ball fields, playgrounds and sport courts, for example. Some grants are as large as $50,000.

King County approved sale of one of its last remaining parcels on the former Kingdome site, with proceeds of roughly $400,000 going towards the grants. The county is looking to sell another building west of Qwest Field, with proceeds also to go into the grants.

More than $7 million has been awarded since the program started a decade ago, and nearly 200 youth sports facilities have been built or renovated as a result. Recipients include school districts, suburban cities and community groups.

The program is administered by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

2good2toss.com has its anniversary

OLYMPIA — In its first year, the http://www.2good2toss.com Web site has helped Washington residents exchange nearly 742,000 pounds of materials that would otherwise go to landfills.

The Web site lets people find new and reusable construction materials or household items. Some describe it as an online garage sale, where valuable items are free or low cost.

"The landfill isn't necessary for re-usable items," said Shelly McClure, who coordinates the online-exchange project for the state Department of Ecology. "This much success in our first year shows that other people around Washington welcome an alternative to dumping."

After operating online for a little over a year, the site has nearly 10,000 registered users in 16 counties and cities. For more information, see: http://www.2good2toss.com or http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/index.html.

Clean Harbors to operate Wastemobile

SEATTLE — King County's Solid Waste Division recently signed a contract with Braintree, Mass.-based Clean Harbors Environmental Services to operate its hazardous household waste disposal service called Wastemobile.

Wastemobile is the county's mobile household hazardous waste collection program. It is funded by a surcharge on fees for solid waste disposal and wastewater discharge, and serves more than 30,000 customers. Each year Wastemobile collects 1,000 tons of hazardous waste. Last year, it collected an average of 78 pounds from each of 17,000 customers.

Clean Harbors is an environmental services company that provides hazardous waste services around the country. Customers include the city and county of Los Angeles, and Fortune 500 companies.

King County's solid waste division will monitor cost savings in the first year. Any savings will be used to add household hazardous waste collection services for county residents. For more information, contact James Neely at (206) 296-4472.

King County looking for litter

SEATTLE — A King County program to clean public properties that are littered or have had illegal dumping is looking for new sites. Eligible locations are any city, county, state or federally owned property in King County that is outside Seattle city limits.

To report a problem litter area on public property, call the Solid Waste Division at (206) 296-4466. Or see www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/litter-cleanup/siteinfo_consentform.pdf and send information to King County Solid Waste Division, Attn: Morgan John, 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 701, Seattle, WA 98104. Or e-mail morgan.john@metrokc.gov.

King County's community litter cleanup program is funded by the Washington state Department of Ecology. The county's solid waste division has funded 430 cleanups on publicly owned parcels since 1998. For more information, call Morgan John at (206) 296-8443.

Deal OK'd to reduce paint waste

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Canadian company Solucorp Industries, Ltd. recently announced it has signed a sales and marketing agreement with Seattle's N.S. Technologies.

Under the agreement, Solucorp grants to N.S. Technologies the exclusive right to buy and use its molecular bonding system technology, which is used to treat heavy metal-contaminated paint ash.

Solucorp's technology treats heavy metal wastes by chemically binding metals so they don't leach and contaminate groundwater.

N.S. Technologies works to help companies around the country reduce hazardous waste. Treating paint filters onsite and handling process paint sludge properly are ways companies can cut hazardous waste. N.S. shares a customer base of about 2,200 companies and government agencies with Commercial Filter Sales & Services.

N.S. Technologies will market and sell filters, paint strippers and sand blasting lead remediation additive. The company will target clients in the aeronautics, railcar and automotive industries.

Solucorp Industries Ltd. is a Canadian corporation and the parent company of three U.S. corporations: Solucorp Industries, Integrated Fixation System Co. and WITS.

Environmental Watch: KTA gets $6.25M federal enviro contract

SEATTLE — Seattle environmental consulting firm KTA Associates recently won a contract that will allow it to do up to $6.25 million in federal government environmental consulting.

The General Services Administration contract allows KTA to work on up to $1.25 million worth of projects each year for five years. KTA president Ken Taylor said projects can be located anywhere in the country, but most will be here in the Northwest.

Examples are environmental cleanups, water quality studies or remediation. Advising on the kind of equipment that should be used to control air discharges is another way the company can do work for federal government clients.

Taylor said GSA contracts aren't often given to small companies because they might not have a lot of expertise. He started KTA after years of consulting in the Northwest, and also worked at the U.S. Department of Energy as part of a team cleaning contamination from nuclear weapons programs.

KTA has offices are in Seattle, Olympia and Portland. The company also consults on risk management projects and also does litigation support.

Clean energy conference in Great Falls, Mont.

OLYMPIA — Olympia-based Climate Solutions is one of the hosts of the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference, to be held Jan. 20-21 in Great Falls, Mont. Organizers say rural clean energy production offers financial opportunities for ranchers, rural utilities, towns and tribes.

The conference is targeted to Northwest farmers, economic development officials, energy developers and public agencies.

Among the topics to be covered are how to finance and market energy projects, as well as new technologies such as utility-scale wind power and biofuels.

Other conference sponsors are: the National Center for Appropriate Technology; U.S. Department of Energy; Alternative Energy Resources Organization; Montana Department of Environmental Quality; and the Northwest Co-operative Development Center.

Ecology proposes rule for Columbia water

OLYMPIA — The Department of Ecology filed a proposed rule and draft EIS that would be part of Gov. Gary Locke's Columbia River Initiative, a new water resource management program for the Columbia River.

The initiative will allocate two-thirds of secured water would be placed in a reserve, or "water account," and be earmarked for new uses. The state would permanently keep the remaining one-third in order to improve stream flows for fish.

Ecology's proposed rule for the Columbia River Mainstem Water Management Program would set guidelines to:

• Manage a designated account of water from the Columbia R.

• Issue water rights during droughts in areas flows are low

• Secure a reliable supply of water for places in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland

• Process water rights applications filed with Ecology

Ecology seeks comments on the rule and environmental impact statement and formal hearings are scheduled for February. Hearings will take place in Vancouver, Pasco, Moses Lake, Grand Coulee, Wenatchee, Lacey and Colville.

For more information, see site at www.ecy.wa.gov. Comments may be sent by e-mail to CRI@ecy.wa.gov or mailed to Gerry O’Keefe, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA, 98504. Or call (360) 407-6640.

Ecology says it won’t adopt the proposed rule unless the next legislature and governor approve the legislative package. Legislation would then give Ecology direction to acquire water before approving new water withdrawals.

City of Tacoma asks to use landfill for longer

SEATTLE — The city of Tacoma has asked for a second extension to operate its part of the Tacoma Landfill. If approved, the city could keep putting solid waste in the 31-acre central part of the landfill until the end of 2009.

Groups evaluating the request and seeking public comment are the Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington state Department of Ecology and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

A public comment period runs through Jan. 21. Send written comments to Bob Kievit, EPA Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 300 Desmond Drive, Suite 102, Lacey, WA 98503. Fax (360) 753-8080 or call (360) 753-9014.

The 220-acre Tacoma Landfill is part of the Commencement Bay, South Tacoma Channel Superfund site and is located south of the South Center Street and the South Mullen Street intersection.

Groundwater contamination there consists mostly of volatile organic compounds. Cleanup has involved a landfill cap with leak detection systems, as well as groundwater extraction and treatment. A five-year review done earlier this year confirmed these cleanup activities are working, according to the EPA.

U.S. Green Building Council reports on PVC

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council released a draft report last week on the use of PVC in buildings and whether avoiding PVC should earn credits under the council's rating program for green building.

PVC is used in siding, piping, drainage-products, window frames and floor coverings. It is also a component of some carpets, wall coverings and other products.

The council says it neither supports nor opposes the use of PVC and vinyl products in buildings, but it is considering changing that position. In November 2002, the council asked its technical advisory committee to see if there is a case for giving LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, credits to projects on which PVC and vinyl products aren't used. This committee looked at whether emissions from these materials may affect indoor air quality and human health and if LEED credits should be awarded where they aren't used.

The council seeks public comments on the committee's draft report. Comments are due Feb. 15. Details are posted at http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/tsac/pvcvinyl.asp. For more information, see http://www.usgbc.org or call (202) 848-7422.

Members of the U.S. Green Building Council include corporations, builders, universities, governments and nonprofits that promote sustainable building.

Environmental Watch: Environmental Home Center reopens soon

SEATTLE — The Environmental Home Center plans to reopen its showroom in the first week of January. A fire in August destroyed the center's offices, showroom and main warehouse. The new showroom will be located at 4121 First Ave. S. in Seattle's SoDo district.

Environmental Home Center supplies sustainable building materials such as low-emission paints and finishes, natural-fiber carpets, recycled-glass tiles, energy-efficient insulation, and sustainably harvested wood flooring and cabinets.

Customers can place orders by phone — (206) 682-7332 or (800) 281-9785 — or order from the Web site, http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com.

The center last month won an award for its work to connect builders with environmentally friendly resources from CoreNet Global, a 7,500-member association of corporate real estate executives.

SEPA/NEPA workshop Jan. 26

SEATTLE — Law Seminars International will hold a Jan. 26 workshop on SEPA and NEPA compliance at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in Seattle. The workshop covers the compliance process, from proposal through judicial review.

The workshop will be co-chaired by Charles R. Blumenfeld and Rodney L. Brown. Cost is $595. For more information, call (206) 567-4490 or (800) 854-8009. Also e-mail registrar@lawseminars.com or visit http://www.lawseminars.com. Law Seminars International presents continuing education programs in the U.S. and Canada.

Landscape firms get WALP awards

EVERETT — The Pierce County Chapter of the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals recently hosted an awards program to recognize landscape contractors, architects, suppliers and owners.

Awards went to: Landscapes by Mother Nature, Beautiful Lawns of Washington, Hedahl Landscape and Construction, and the landscape program of Clover Park Technical College.

Washington Association of Landscape Professionals is based in Everett. For more information, see http://www.walp.org, or call Andy Flood at (253) 584-3422.

County plans $600K Duwamish cleanup

SEATTLE — King County says it will spread a layer of clean sand on an area contaminated by materials that washed into the lower Duwamish River as part of a dredging project a year ago.

The projected cost for the cleanup is $600,000, which includes $280,000 for construction and $320,000 for design and monitoring. Anchor Environmental is working on design. No contractor has been named.

How did the area get contaminated?

Some of Miller Contracting's actions as part of a $6.8 million dredging, capping and disposal project allowed contaminated dredged material to escape, according to Gary Larson, media relations planner for the county's Wastewater Treatment Division. Rabanco Regional Disposal Co. was also working on the project.

Crews removed 66,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, taking out 400 pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls to clean seven acres.

In order to reduce exposure of organisms to some of the escaped contaminants, the county will spread 5,500 tons of sand on part of the site. King County proposed this method, called enhanced natural recovery, to reduce contamination levels more quickly. Regulatory agencies and King County plan the work before March 1.

For more information, contact John Phillips of the Wastewater Treatment Division at (206) 263-6543.

Ecology finishes 30-year waste plan

OLYMPIA — After four years of public input meetings, the state Department of Ecology recently made final a 30-year plan for ways the state can reduce waste.

"We're looking at waste prevention, versus managing waste after it's made," said Ecology solid waste manager Cullen Stephenson. A third of landfill waste is organic material that can be composted. Another third comes from construction debris.

Ecology's "Beyond Waste" plan focuses on four areas: composting organic waste, promoting green building, helping businesses find ways to reduce waste, and diverting hazardous waste that comes in small quantities, like batteries from households, from landfills.

A goal is to reduce waste — such as chemicals, fertilizers and industrial solvents — from households, hospitals and businesses.

One way to do that is to change the way products are designed, manufactured, distributed and disposed. Consumers can buy items that are durable, contain little to no packaging, were manufactured from recycled ingredients or have fewer toxic ingredients.

Ecology officials say people in Washington are generating more waste. Each person is responsible for 44 pounds of hazardous waste and 2,840 pounds of non-hazardous waste per year. State law requires Ecology to develop statewide solid and hazardous waste plans and to update them regularly.

For more information, call Chris Chapman at (360) 407-7160, Statewide Hazardous Waste Plan; Cheryl Smith (360) 407-6654, Statewide Solid Waste Plan; or Jim Sachet at (360) 407-6126, Hazardous Waste Facilities Initiative.

Environmental Watch: Islandwood's new director: Klasky

Klasky

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — IslandWood's board of directors recently named Ben Klasky executive director. He begins Jan. 10, 2005, replacing retiring executive director Carole Grisham.

Klasky was executive director for nonprofit Net Impact and specialized in technology projects for Deloitte & Touche. He also co-founded Donor Empower, which shows nonprofits how to use computer tools for fundraising. Klasky has master's degrees in business administration and education from Stanford University.

IslandWood is a 255-acre outdoor learning center that provides science, technology and arts classes. Its aim is to promote environmental and community stewardship. For more information, see http://www.islandwood.org.

UW symposium on air pollution Jan. 24

SEATTLE — The University of Washington Particulate EPA Air Pollution Research Center will hold a free symposium for the public on Jan. 24, 2005.

The event will be held in the Magnuson Health Sciences Center's Hogness Auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Experts from epidemiology, toxicology and exposure assessment will present results of six years of research on combustion-derived airborne particles, for example those from wood smoke, agricultural burning and diesel exhaust. For more information, call (206) 616-6570.

King County to offer compost training

SEATTLE — King County will offer training sessions on composting starting Wednesdays from Jan. 26 through March 16, 2005. Participants will get 40 hours of training on waste prevention, recycling and home composting.

The Master Recycler Composter training sessions will be held at SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S. 188th St. in SeaTac from from 6:15 to 9 p.m. Field trips are scheduled for Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and March 12, 2005.

Training is free and open to all King County residents who live outside of Seattle. Graduates are expected to volunteer at least 40 hours in their communities to share their expertise.

Since 1990, more than 500 have been trained to teach others about composting. For more information, contact Karen May at (206) 296-4353 or (800) 833-6388. E-mail karen.may//www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/mrc/index.asp. Applications are due Jan. 17, 2005.

PSE to buy proposed wind farm

BELLEVUE — Puget Sound Energy says it plans to buy the proposed $200 million Hopkins Ridge Wind Project in Columbia County.

Hopkins Ridge will be located about 15 miles northeast of Dayton on 11,000 acres of open wheat fields. It would provide 150 megawatts of wind power using 80 turbines, enough energy to power 50,000 homes. It will take nine months to build the wind plant once contractors get a notice to proceed, but it could be finished as early as next year.

Puget Sound Energy and Blue Sky Wind will look at siting, equipment, construction and facility operations. Blue Sky is an affiliate of RES America Developments and Renewable Energy Systems, which has built 30 wind projects in six countries.

The announcement follows the utility's recent plan to buy the 230 megawatt Wild Horse Wind Power Project in Kittitas County.

Eric Markell, Puget Sound Energy's senior vice president of energy resources, said the utility's goal is to get at least five percent of electricity from renewable resources by 2013.

Energy from Hopkins Ridge will be delivered by the Bonneville Power Administration's transmission system, connecting with a 115-kilovolt North Lewiston-Walla Walla transmission line.

LEED introduced for commercial interiors

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council has introduced a LEED green building rating system that applies to commercial interiors, called LEED-CI.

LEED-CI is for building owners and occupants as well as interior designers and architects. Criteria include efficiency of water usage, lighting and lighting controls, and emissions.

Rick Fedrizzi, president of the U.S. Green Building Council, said the commercial interiors market is 16 times bigger than the market for new commercial construction.

The council is developing a rating system for core and shell developments, which will be called LEED-CS.

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a guideline for sustainable green building that's being used by federal agencies, state and local governments, and private companies around the country.