Environmental Watch: Britain wants a green building council

VANCOUVER, B.C. — A British environmental consultant and professor is seeking funding for a British green building council, patterned after the U.S. Green Building Council.

Dr. David T. G. Strong of BRE Environment, who also chairs a building performance advisory group for the British government, was inspired by the National Green Building conference in Atlanta last year.

Kevin Hydes of Stantec in Montreal mentioned the British campaign for a green building council at the Globe conference in Vancouver last month.

For more information, visit http://www.ukgbc.org.

EPA hosts TRI reporting workshop

SEATTLE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host an all-day workshop on toxic chemical release inventory reporting. All businesses which use or make certain chemicals listed under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act must submit an annual report to the EPA. July 1 is the deadline for the 2005 calendar year report.

EPA will hold a TRI workshop in Seattle on May 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1200 Sixth Ave., 15th floor. Check in on the 12th floor. For EPA workshops in other cities, or to find out if you must report to EPA, visit http://www.epa.gov/tri or call the EPCRA hotline at (800) 424-9346.

Tacoma Power honored for elk fields

TACOMA — The National Hydropower Association has honored Tacoma Power for building 100 acres of elk forage fields on wildlife lands by the upper Nisqually River. Tacoma Power built the fields to mitigate the reduced elk forage land in nearby forests.

Tacoma Power operates the Alder and LaGrande dams on the Nisqually River.

Corps plans $50M fish facility

SEATTLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is building a $50 million state-of-the-art fish passage to bring more salmon and steelhead back to the upper Green River.

No fish have migrated to the upper watershed of the Green River since 1917, when a diversion structure was built. The river also has a dam, the Howard Hanson dam, that began operating in 1961.

The corps has hired Traylor Brothers International to build the intake portion of the facility for $22 million. The intake tower will act as a coffer dam while the rest of the facility is being built. The fish facility will also include a fish-water separator and a new monitoring station.

Additional contracts will be awarded in 2007 and 2008. The fish facility is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

Patrick Mazza to speak in Seattle

PORTLAND — Long-time environmental journalist and policy analyst Patrick Mazza will talk about the state of biofuel technology, regulation and business opportunities at a luncheon hosted by the Northwest Environmental Business Council. Mazza is a founding member of Climate Solutions, a nonprofit which provides practical solutions for global warming.

The event will be held May 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside, 1200 Westlake Ave. N. For more details, contact info@nebc.org or call (800) 985-6322. To register, visit http://www.nebc.org.

Earth Day on the Duwamish

SEATTLE — The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition is hosting an all-day celebration in Georgetown and South Park on Saturday in honor of Earth Day. Gov. Christine Gregoire and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels are scheduled to speak at noon at Gateway Park North in Georgetown. The Duwamish Alive celebration also includes a work party, a barbecue and a twilight kayak parade.

For more info call (206) 954-0218 or visit http://www.duwamishcleanup.org.

Paccar to build hybrid trucks

BELLEVUE — Paccar says its trucks will become 30 percent more fuel-efficient within the next seven years.

The $14.1 billion truck maker is counting on hybrid power systems, which will have an electric motor generator and onboard energy storage, to help achieve this goal.

Over-the-road hybrid trucks are scheduled for release next year and medium-duty trucks in 2008.

Environmental Watch: WSU, USFS join forces to fight bark beetles

PULLMAN — Researchers at Washington State University in Pullman and the U.S. Forest Service have joined forces to fight bark beetles, which are killing large numbers of trees in Washington, Montana and northern Idaho. Recent warm winters and drought have stressed the trees, making them more prone to bark beetle attacks.

The U.S. Forest Service has released fake bark beetle pheromones in the forest canopy to confuse the insects. Pheromones are chemicals emitted by living organisms to send messages to each other.

Scientists at WSU-Pullman are making models of how the fake pheromone, sulfur hexafluoride, disperses through the forest canopy.

"We are trying to understand how the pheromone gets transported," said WSU researcher Brian Lamb. That will help the Forest Service figure out how much of the chemical to release.

Bark beetles find trees that are under stress and attack them, releasing a pheromone that signals other bark beetles to join in, Lamb said. "The artificial pheromones just confuse that whole situation," he said. "[There are] so many pheromones coming from sources they can't mount an attack on a single tree."

Almost 2 million trees were killed by bark beetles last year on 916,000 acres of forestland in Oregon and Washington, said David Bridgwater, an entomologist with the Forest Service.

Canadians develop flexible solar panel

CAMBRIDGE, Ontario — Photowatt Technologies is developing a new solar panel that it claims is more flexible, lightweight and durable than those now on the market.

The solar panels are manufactured without glass in a process called "spheral technology." Raw crystalline silicon is purified and fused into spheres, which are fed through a diffusion furnace. The spheres are bonded onto two sheets of aluminum foil to create a 600x150mm solar cell, which can be laser cut into different sizes.

Photowatt Technologies is a division of ATS Automation Tooling Systems. It opened Canada's first full-scale solar cell manufacturing plant in 2004 and expects to have the new solar panel on the market later this year. The company expects its new solar panel to be competitively priced.

Seattle port gets clean air award

SEATTLE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has honored the Port of Seattle with its Clean Air Excellence Award.

The Port is reducing diesel emissions at Sea-Tac Airport by using a new aircraft-fueling system which eliminates the need for diesel-powered tanker trucks. It also has a fleet of 64 natural gas vehicles.

Cruise lines at the seaport can plug into the electrical grid instead of running their engines in port. Also, the airport recycled 25 percent of its solid waste last year.

The Port of Seattle is one of 16 agencies around the U.S. to receive EPA's Clean Air Excellence award.

Ecology has plan for Swamp Creek

BELLEVUE — The state Department of Ecology says public education is the most important element of its proposed cleanup plan for Swamp Creek. The 15-mile-long creek in Snohomish County has high levels of fecal colioform bacteria from animal waste, failing septic systems and other sources. Swimming and wading is banned in three sections of the creek because of the bacteria.

Key elements of Ecology's cleanup plan include educating septic system owners on how to maintain their septic systems and educating pet owners on picking up pet waste.

A public meeting about the Swamp Creek cleanup plan will be held on Tuesday, April 18, from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Lynnwood High School, 3001 184th St. N.W.

For more info see http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/tmdl_info-nwro.html.

Pierce County wants solid waste help

TACOMA — The Pierce County Solid Waste Advisory Committee is looking for new members to help decide what kinds of recycling, garbage and waste reduction programs the county needs.

The committee will look at electronics recycling, food waste recycling, glass recycling and green building.

The SWAC encourages residents of unincorporated Pierce County to apply for membership.

For more information or an application, call (253) 798-2179 or http://www.piercecountywa.org.

Scandinavian sustainability tour May 7-13

SEATTLE — International Sustainable Solutions, an educational group, is leading a tour to Sweden and Denmark in May to see how Scandinavian cities handle green development.

The tour will go to Malmo, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Architects, planners, developers and engineers are encouraged to attend.

The tour will be held from May 7 to 13 and costs $3,450, not including airfare. For more info, see http://www.i-sustain.com.

Environmental Watch: 17 REI stores to run on green power

Photo courtesy of Eckert & Eckert REI will buy enough green power over the next year to fuel 17 of its 82 retail stores.

SEATTLE — Recreational Equipment Inc. announced last week it will buy 10 million kilowatt hours of green power over the next year, enough to fuel 17 of its 82 retail stores.

That represents 20 percent of the outdoor cooperative's total energy usage nationally.

The retail cooperative will buy wind power, solar power and landfill gas from sources in Oregon, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas and Pennsylvania for stores located in those states. As green power becomes available in other states, REI will purchase more of it, said spokesperson Randy Hurlow.

"We are taking a close look at our business practices to reduce our environmental footprint," said Hurlow.

Military camp near Sunriver may get cleanup

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to conduct a site investigation near Bend, Ore., at Camp Abbot, a former military installation used to train combat engineers during World War II.

The property is now part of Sunriver Resort, which bought it in 1965.

There may be hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste at Camp Abbot, which the Corps must clean up to comply with local and federal environmental laws. “There were shooting ranges on the site,” said Corps spokesperson Mike McAleer.

The Corps hopes to begin the investigation in July, once the property owner grants permission for the testing. Shaw Environmental, an international company with headquarters in Baton Rouge, La., has been hired to conduct the tests, which may include soil and water sampling.

A public information meeting about the Corps’ plans for Camp Abbot will be held tonight at the Sunriver Resort from 7 to 9 p.m.

Skagit Land Trust honors City Light

SEATTLE — The Skagit Land Trust has given Seattle City Light its Outstanding Partnership Award for buying ranchland at Iron Mountain and maintaining its current uses.

Some of the Iron Mountain property borders salmon and steelhead trout spawning grounds at the Skagit River, and Seattle City Light is restoring the riparian vegetation on the shore. The remainder of the 236-acre property is farmland and will remain farmland. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation helped Seattle City Light to purchase the property.

Spokane's Kendall Yards wins national award

OLYMPIA — The Kendall Yards project team in Spokane is getting a national award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for working collaboratively to clean up a brownfields site.

The 77-acre Kendall Yards, which used to be a Union Pacific railyard, was cleaned up in only 12 months despite large quantities of heavy metals. GeoEngineers of Spokane was the lead geotechnical engineer and Envirocon, Inc. of Missoula, Mont., was cleanup contractor.

Coeur d'Alene developer Marshall Chesrown owns Kendall Yards and expects to break ground early next year on a 10-year, $1 billion mixed-use development. His company, Black Rock Development, paid for more than half of the cleanup and obtained EPA loans for the rest.

The Kendall Yards project team includes representatives from EPA Region 10, the state Department of Ecology, the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development and the Spokane Area Economic Development Council. On April 19 in Washington, D.C., they will receive EPA's Outstanding Brownfields Team Award.

King County offers grants for water projects

SEATTLE — King County is offering grants of up to $50,000 to schools, non-profits and local governments for projects that show the benefits of clean water, protecting salmon and preserving wilderness areas.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available for projects about water quality, and up to $10,000 for projects concerning forestry or upland habitat restoration.

May 1 is the deadline to apply for grants of more than $2,500. For more info call (206) 296-8265 or visit http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/pi/grants.htm.

Alt-fuel vehicles will rally on Earth Day

SEATTLE — Owners and vendors of cars powered by alternative fuels will gather at Seward Park on Earth Day to talk about why they made the switch to biodiesel, hybrid or electric power.

The city of Seattle is sponsoring the rally to educate its citizens about environmental stewardship. It will be held on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the tennis court parking lot.

Jaime Lerner coming to Seattle

SEATTLE — Brazil's sustainable growth champion Jaime Lerner will speak at a forum at Benaroya Hall next week sponsored by the Seattle Department of Planning and Development.

Lerner helped design the city of Curitiba, Brazil, as a young architect and was then appointed mayor by the military government. As mayor, he turned the downtown shopping district into a pedestrian zone, organized street vendors into a mobile fair and solved the city's flood problems by diverting lowland water into lakes in new parks.

Lerner will speak on Monday, April 10, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Benaroya Hall, 200 University St. For more info, contact Gary Johnson at (206) 615-0787 or gary.johnson@seattle.gov.

Environmental Watch: New biologist joins David Evans

BELLEVUE — Kirk W. Moughamer has joined the Bellevue office of David Evans and Associates, a land-use planning and engineering company based in Portland.

A former wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service, Moughamer will be doing GIS mapping and wetlands identification. He has also worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society and the National Parks Service. Moughamer has an undergraduate degree in environmental resource management from Penn State University.

Shockey/Brent adds two planners

EVERETT — Rapid growth has spurred the Everett-based management consulting firm of Shockey/Brent to hire two associate planners.

Mark McDonough, who will be doing environmental research for the firm, has completed internships with the cities of Tacoma, Lakewood and Normandy Park, focusing on sustainable development. He has a bachelor's degree in urban studies from the University of Washington.

Brittney Baldwin will join the marketing department. She has an undergraduate degree in environmental planning and policy from Western Washington University. She previously worked in Antarctica, doing wildlife surveys and aquatic analysis for scientific research teams.

Ray Cole coming to Seattle April 10

SEATTLE — Sustainable building expert Ray Cole will speak at the Seattle Central Library on Monday, April 10, as part of a lecture series hosted by the Cascadia Green Building Council.

Cole is a co-founder of the Green Building Challenge, an international effort to track the performance of green buildings. He also heads the Environmental Research Group at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture, where he has taught for 28 years.

Cole will speak at the Seattle Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more info call (206) 223-2028 or visit http://www.cascadiagbc.org.

Ecology tightens water standards

OLYMPIA — The Washington state Department of Ecology is beefing up water quality standards in response to a ruling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that said Ecology is not doing enough to protect salmon and bull trout.

Some species of these fish are protected under the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Ecology's revisions to its 2003 standards will mean stricter oversight of the temperature and oxygen levels in streams where the fish migrate or spawn. The changes will affect major rivers that drain into Puget Sound, including the Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Puyallup and Nisqually.

Groups get $487,000 for education

OLYMPIA — The Puget Sound Action Team, a government partnership focused on cleaning up Puget Sound, has announced its 2006 grant recipients. Fifteen organizations will receive grants totaling $487,000 to educate the public about the Sound.

Grantees include the Kitsap Home Builders Foundation ($40,000), which will educate builders on sustainable building technologies; Seattle Aquarium ($23,000), to train volunteers about beach ecology; North Peninsula Building Association, to create a green building program; and the Friends of the San Juans ($36,925), to educate shoreline landowners about habitat restoration.

Port of Tacoma terminal using biodiesel

TACOMA — Last week, Husky Terminal & Stevedoring began using 20 percent biodiesel fuel, combined with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, in all of its diesel-operated vehicles and container handling equipment.

That fuel combination can reduce sulfur oxide emissions by 99 percent, according to Cindy Lin, who manages environmental compliance for the Port of Tacoma.

NEBC seminar on government contracts

PORTLAND — The Northwest Environmental Business Council is hosting a seminar for people who want to get government contracts but don't know where to start.

Michael Bowen of the Government Contract Assistance Program will talk about how to register a business with the federal government and develop a marketing strategy.

The seminar, which costs $25 and includes breakfast, will be held on Tuesday, April 25, at 7 a.m. at the Governor Hotel, 614 S.W. 11th Ave. in Portland. For more info, contact Linda@nebc.org or call (800) 985-6322.

Changes for Pierce County Parks staff

LAKEWOOD — After 28 years as park superintendent, Skip Ferrucci is moving into a new position at the Pierce County Parks Department.

Ferrucci will be in charge of land acquisition and resource management for the Pierce County Parks Department, which has more than 3,000 acres of property and millions of dollars in capital construction projects.

Park Supervisor Kent Baskett will be interim superintendent until a new superintendent is hired.

Suncadia going for the green

Suncadia’s 6,300-acre resort is under construction near Roslyn.

SEATTLE — Developers of Suncadia, a 6,300-acre resort outside of Roslyn, are trying to achieve a three-star rating for the project from Built Green, a program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.

Suncadia is owned by subsidiaries of Jeld-Wen, PacTrust and Lowe Enterprises. It will include a resort village, three golf courses, a lodge, a sports center, shops, galleries, restaurants, a spa and more than 40 miles of trails. For more information, see http://www.suncadia.com.

Built Green rates projects based on environmentally sustainable criteria. For more information, see http://www.builtgreen.net.

Environmental Watch: Hyer joins Landau Associates

EDMONDS — J. Walter Hyer, III has joined Landau Associates' board of directors as the firm's first outside board member. Hyer has worked for AT&T Wireless as senior vice president, deputy general counsel and assistant secretary.

Landau Associates is an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Edmonds. For more information, visit http://www.landauinc.com.

Corps shows off new fish scanner

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a cool new fish trick: a high-flow antenna that can scan fish equipped with tracking devices. It will be shown off this week at Bonneville Dam.

Fish swim into a 16-foot by 16-foot device, which will be installed inside a bypass route to move fish safely past Bonneville Lock and Dam. The antenna can detect tracked fish every one-third of a second.

The Corps designed this scanner with the Bonneville Power Administration to determine the species, origin and age of the fish which travel through it.

The antenna housing was fabricated by Polycycle Industrial Products of Pittsburgh, Pa. and the electrical components were designed by Digital Angel.

The Corps is required by the Endangered Species Act to track how many fish are migrating through the Columbia and Snake River systems.

What does it cost to protect salmon?

SEATTLE — U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris (R-Wash.) wants ratepayers to see in their bills how much it costs to protect salmon.

Bonneville Power Administration customers in the Northwest pay about $500 million per year for salmon protection through the Endangered Species Act, BPA says.

HR 4857, the Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act, would require BPA and other power providers to report salmon protection costs every month to their wholesale power customers, who would pass that information on to retail customers.

Corps, Nature Conservancy join forces

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Nature Conservancy said they are going to work together to protect rivers and surrounding natural areas in Oregon.

For example, the Conservancy is currently helping the Corps evaluate how some dams and reservoirs along the Middle and Coast Forks of the Willamette River are being operated. They are also collaborating on an ecosystem restoration project in the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve near Enterprise, Ore.

Living Barge coming to the Duwamish

SEATTLE — A temporary floating island will appear on the Duwamish River this week, when artists Sarah Kavage and Nicole Kistler start to cover an 86-foot by 20-foot industrial barge at the Duwamish Shipyard with native plants.

When the "Living Barge" is complete, it will be towed to the east bank of the Duwamish between the First Avenue South Bridge and the South Park Bridge.

There will be a reception for the Living Barge on Saturday, April 1, from 6-8 p.m. at Gateway Park South in South Park. The barge is a project of South Park Arts, and is part of a month-long celebration in conjunction with Earth Day. At the end of April plants from the barge will be re-planted at Cesar Chavez Park in South Park.

For more information see http://www.livingbarge.com and http://www.pugetsound.org/index/earth_day_2006.

Agency to oversee electronic waste

OLYMPIA — New state legislation requiring that electronic waste be recycled is awaiting Governor Chris Gregoire's signature.

Senate Bill 6428, which passed on Feb. 8, creates a recycling system for electronic waste that will be paid for by manufacturers and overseen by the state Department of Ecology. Under the legislation, no electronic products can be sold in Washington state after Jan. 1, 2007, without a permanent label that can be used to trace the manufacturer and collect from them part of the cost of recycling. The existing stock of unlabeled products can be sold.

A new public authority, the Washington Materials Management and Financing Authority, will be created by this legislation to collect and recycle used electronics. Electronics manufacturers must decide by Jan. 1, 2009, whether they will participate in a plan operated by the authority. Manufacturers can opt for an independent plan, which must be reviewed by Ecology by Feb. 1, 2008.

Clark County to give Sammy awards

VANCOUVER — Clark County is seeking nominations for the Sammy awards, which recognize contributions to salmon recovery in Clark County.

Nominations are due by Thursday, April 20, to Joni McAnally, Clark County ESA Program, PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666. For more information, call McAnally at 397-2022 ext. 3 or e-mail joni.mcanally@clark.wa.gov.

The awards ceremony will be held on June 15 at the Water Resources Education Center in Vancouver.

Globe coming to Vancouver, B.C.

VANCOUVER, BC — Environmental technology leaders from around the world will gather at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre from March 29 to 31 for the Globe 2006 biennial trade fair and conference. The ninth annual conference is expected to draw 10,000 participants, 2,000 delegates and 400 exhibitors from 75 countries.

Globe is organized around the themes of energy and the environment, building better cities and corporate sustainability. The trade fair will include advanced energy-efficient vehicles, and the latest in green building technology.

The conference costs $1,350 Canadian, with discounts for groups. For more information, see http://www.globe2006.com or call (604) 775-7300.

EPA's Bogert to speak at NEBC lunch

SEATTLE — Michael Bogert of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will speak about the agency’s current activities in the Northwest at the April 5 meeting of the Northwest Environmental Business Council in Seattle.

Bogert manages EPA’s Region 10, which covers the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The NEBC meeting will be held at McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside on Lake Union, 1200 Westlake Ave. N., on Wednesday, April 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, call (503) 227-6361 or email sue@nebc.org.

Environmental Watch: Gig Harbor replacing old school buses

GIG HARBOR — The Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor will replace eight old diesel buses, thanks to a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a $100,000 grant from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

The school district matched the grants, bringing the total to $800,000.

The district will buy 2007 model year buses that meet the latest EPA diesel emission standards, which reduce particulate matter by 98 percent, nitrogen oxides by 97 percent, and non-methane hydrocarbons by 89 percent.

Comments due on gypsy moth spraying

SEATTLE — State entomologists have found gypsy moths in Seattle and Bellevue, and want public approval to get rid of them.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture wants to spray Bellevue's Rosemont neighborhood and part of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood this spring with Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a biological insecticide.

Gypsy moths attack many kinds of trees and shrubs.

To read more about the spraying and make comments see http://www.agr.wa.gov/plantsinsects or call (800) 443-6684.

EPA has four plans for Duwamish cleanup

SEATTLE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed four plans to clean up a Superfund site along the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other chemicals are in the mud at the bottom of Slip 4, north of Boeing Plant 2 in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood.

EPA would like to remove the sediments with the greatest contamination, which are near the surface, and then cover the rest with engineered caps of clean sand, gravel and rock. This plan would cost about $7 million and involve removing 14,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment.

To read more about the proposals, see http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/sites/lduwamish.

To comment on the proposals, send an e-mail to Karen Keeley, EPA's Project Manager, at keeley.karen@epa.gov.

Alchemy Goods joins Linkup program

SEATTLE — A Seattle company which makes messenger bags out of recycled materials is getting help from King County.

Alchemy Goods sells bags of varying sizes made with bicycle inner tubes, seat belt straps and other recycled materials.

The company recently joined King County's Linkup program, part of the Solid Waste Division, which encourages manufacturers to incorporate more recycled materials in their products. To date, Linkup has helped about 24 such companies with business planning and marketing.

Stormwater conference here March 20-21

SEATTLE — Law Seminars International is presenting its annual conference on recent developments concerning clean water and stormwater on March 20 and 21 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison St.

There will be speakers from the state Department of Ecology, the Department of Transportation, Puget Sound Action Team, CH2M Hill and Water Resources Northwest, among others. The conference will be chaired by Michael P. O'Connell of Stoel Rivers LLP and James A. Tupper, Jr. of Mentor Law Group.

It offers 12.5 CLE credits and costs $895, with discounts for students and groups.

To register, call (206) 567-4490 or (800) 854-8009 or e-mail registrar@lawseminars.com.

Conference looks at reclaiming habitat

SEATTLE — The Wildlife Habitat Council is sponsoring a conference in Seattle about restoring greenspace on previously contaminated property.

The council works to increase wildlife habitat on public and private lands.

The conference will be held at the Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue and will showcase examples of how site restoration can incorporate ecological reuse practices.

The cost ranges from $105 (non-profit and government rate) to $410 (corporate rate). Rates increase after March 18. For more information see http://www.wildlifehc.org or call (301) 588-8994.

Hazardous waste workshop in Portland

PORTLAND — Lion Technology will host its 2006 certification workshop on April 3 and 4 for people who work with hazardous waste. The workshop provides hands-on training to navigate current regulations. The agenda includes special issue waste, land disposal restrictions, emergencies, off-site shipments and training.

The workshop will be at the Holiday Inn at the Portland Airport. Register online at http://www.lion.com/w104 or phone (973) 383-0800 ext. w104. The cost is $795 per person, with discounts for groups.

Skagit farmland group seeks new head

MOUNT VERNON — The head of a nationally recognized farmland protection group in Mount Vernon is stepping down.

Bob Rose, executive director of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland is leaving after 11 years. During his tenure, the program protected 5,000 acres of farmland. Rose also helped attract $8 million in investments for Washington State University's research and extension center, and organized an agricultural marketing program for the county.

Environmental conference in Portland

PORTLAND — The 2006 Northwest Environmental Conference and Tradeshow in Portland is set for Dec. 7 and 8, and organizers are now accepting tradeshow booth reservations.

This will be the 18th year for the event, billed as the largest such conference in the Pacific Northwest. It will be held at the Red Lion Hotel on the River at Jantzen Beach. Members of the Northwest Environmental Business Council get a discount.

For information contact the Northwest Environmental Business Council at (503) 227-6361 or (800) 985-6322. You can also get more information at http://www.nwec.org.

Environmental Watch: Second fine for Skagit Highlands project

BELLEVUE — The Department of Ecology has fined Skagit Highlands LLC of Redmond and Boss Construction, Inc. of Bellingham $17,500 for polluting Nookachamps Creek in eastern Mount Vernon.

On Jan. 20, an Ecology inspector reported seeing silty stormwater runoff entering the creek from the 206-acre Skagit Highlands project.

Skagit Highlands LLC and Boss Construction have 30 days to appeal the $17,500 penalty. Last year Ecology fined them $16,000 fine for similar violations. That fine, which the company is appealing, was later reduced to $14,000.

Pierce County buys land near Orting

TACOMA — Pierce County has just acquired 10 acres of land on the upper Puyallup River near Orting. Orting, which is only 20 miles from Tacoma, is growing fast, and the area around the Puyallup River there has been under a lot of pressure from development.

The 10-acre parcel is by the river and is a salmon spawning area.

The former Port of Tacoma property was transferred to Pierce County in December 2005 as part of an environmental mitigation package. “When we make improvements in the tideflats area,” says Port of Tacoma spokesperson Mike Wasem, “we create new habitat for wildlife as mitigation.”

Venture fund will seed green power firms

SEATTLE — A new venture capital company, the Northwest Energy Angel Group, has been organized to fund young companies that are innovators in energy conservation technology such as biofuels, solar and wind power.

The group has 17 members with about $20 million in capital to invest. It has already provided seed capital to one company, but officials could not disclose the amount or the name of the company, though they did say they've given the company all the money it was looking for.

The group plans to seek five more members, according to founding member Martin Tobias. Tobias is also president of Seattle Biodiesel and a venture partner with Ignition Corp.

"The whole point is this is an organization for investors who want to find companies who match their social and economic objectives," said Tobias, "and for companies to find investors who are prequalified for these kinds of investments."

NEAG is an outgrowth of programs at the Washington Technology Center, a statewide nonprofit which encourages economic growth through technology.

New state permit for aquatic pesticide

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Ecology has issued a new permit regulating the use of aquatic pesticides. These chemicals control the growth of aquatic pests, aquatic plants that can endanger fish and pollute the water.

The new permit, which also concerns the treatment of noxious weeds, has new protections for threatened, sensitive and endangered plants, and separate treatment limitations for Lake Washington, Lake Union/Portage Bay and Lake Sammamish.

The permit, which will be obtainable online, will become effective on April 1.

Money available for parks, habitat work

OLYMPIA — The Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation is accepting grant applications to build new parks, safeguard wildlife habitat and fund recreational activities such as building boat facilities and maintaining backcountry trails. Grants to preserve farmland and protect and preserve riparian habitat are also available.

To apply for a grant, submit a letter of intent to the agency by March 15. Grant applications are due May 1. For more information, see http://www.iac.wa.gov.

Since 1964, the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation has awarded more than $783 million in grants for almost 4,000 projects around the state.

DNR updates east side water maps

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Natural Resources has released improved water type maps for Eastern Washington to help landowners plan their forest management activities.

The new maps sort waters into "Type S," or shoreline waters, "Type F," or fish habitat, or "Type N," or non-fish habitat. All forest practices applications after May 1 will require the use of these maps, which can be found at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/forestpractices/.

Oregon takes 'big look' at land use planning

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A Pendleton farmer and former legislator was chosen to lead the new Oregon board that is taking what's been called the "big look" at the state's system of land-use planning.

At a kickoff meeting of their task force, members chose as chairman Mike Thorne, a state senator for 18 years. He was elected in 1973, the year the state's current land-use laws were passed.

"We should keep in mind that our job is to look forward and find ways we can re-establish some of the positive values of land-use planning," Thorne said. "If we can make them apply for the next 30 to 50 years, we will go a long way toward bridging the gaps that exist."

Thorne and his family are longtime wheat growers in Eastern Oregon, and he has held jobs heading up the Port of Portland and the Washington State Ferries.

The 10 members of the panel said their job is to forge a new consensus about statewide land-use planning, an issue that has driven Oregonians apart over three decades and brought the state national attention.

The laws protected most farm- and forestland and confined most development within urban-growth boundaries.

Voters rejected three attempts to weaken or repeal statewide planning requirements.

But when they overwhelmingly approved Measure 37 in 2004, they also required government to pay landowners when regulations cause losses in property values — or waive the regulations . The Supreme Court upheld the measure Feb. 21.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski and legislative leaders, who appointed the task force, said they do not want it to become the Measure 37 "fix-it committee."

Kulongoski told the group Friday he is working on proposals to deal with the land-use system's perceived unfairness to individuals seeking to build single homes for themselves or family members, or selling land for retirement purposes.

"But my admonition to you is not to get bogged down in specifics about Measure 37," he said. "It's to look long-term at the broader program."

Kulongoski said planning needs to become less tedious and needs to reconnect with Oregonians' values.

"The program has been a one-size-fits-all across 36 counties," Kulongoski said, promising to join the task force on the road. "You're looking at differences all over the state and trying to get them all into the same shoebox. ... I just want the program to be more flexible, to take into consideration the diversity of Oregon."

Environmental Watch: USGBC to develop minimum standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America will co-sponsor development of a minimum standard for high-performance green buildings.

It is intended to balance environmental responsibility, resource efficiency, occupant comfort and community sensitivity. The goal is to provide a baseline that will bring green building into the mainstream.

Scheduled for completion in 2007, the proposed standard will apply to new commercial buildings and major renovations. It will address siting, water use, energy efficiency, impact on the atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor air quality.

The ANSI-accredited standard can be incorporated into building codes. It is intended that the standard will eventually become a prerequisite under LEED.

Comments due on small boiler permit

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Ecology is inviting comments until March 17 on a general permit regulating air emissions from small natural gas fired boilers.

The new permit provides an alternative to the individual permits required for small natural gas and liquefied natural gas fired boilers. The primary pollutants of concern are nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.

For a copy of the proposed order or to make comments, contact Tom Todd, Department of Ecology, Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600; phone, (360) 407-7528; e-mail, ttod461@ecy.wa.gov. The proposed order and fact sheet are also available online at Ecology's Web site.

OSU to study sagebrush ecosystems

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State University has received a $3.6 million federal grant to study ways to restore sagebrush ecosystems across the West.

The five-year project will study the plants and wildlife that make up the huge stretches of Western lands called "steppes" that feature large, dry, open areas with few trees.

The West contains 100 million acres of sagebrush steppe. Because of the invasion of non-native plants, sagebrush ecosystems have become one of the most threatened land types in the United States, researchers say.

Bird researcher speaks on global warming

SEATTLE — Dr. George Divoky, who has researched arctic seabirds for 30 years, will give a talk on "Birds on Ice: Arctic seabirds and global warming" at REI Seattle at 7 p.m. Thursday. He will look at how global warming affects seabird populations and how what he's learned could be applied to Puget Sound.

For reservations, call People For Puget Sound, (206) 382-7007. Cost is $8 in advance and $10 at the door. For information or reservations call (206) 382-7007 or see http://www.pugetsound.org.

Expo for 'absentee' forest landowners

AUBURN — Washington State University Extension, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources and Green River Community College are sponsoring the Eastern Washington Family Forest Expo on March 11. It is intended to provide stewardship advice and assistance to the owners of forestland in Eastern Washington who reside in the Puget Sound region.

About 1.3 million acres of forestland in Eastern Washington are owned by private individuals or families.

Classes and demonstrations will cover fire risk reduction, tree planting, forest health, wildlife, noxious weeds and property management. Equipment vendors, contractors and agency personnel will answer questions.

The event starts at 8 a.m. at Green River Community College in Auburn. Cost is $40 per family or $60 at the door. To register see http://capps.wsu.edu/conferences/forestexpo or call (253) 445-4631. For information contact Amy Grotta at amy.grotta@metrokc.gov or (206) 205-3132.

'Green Materials 101' Wednesday at EHC

SEATTLE — People interested in home improvement projects can learn about green building materials at a free workshop Wednesday, sponsored by King County and the Environmental Home Center in Seattle.

The workshop is part of the launch of EcoDeals.org, a Web site hosted by King County Solid Waste Division that shows King County residents how to save money by purchasing environmentally sound products.

The workshop starts at noon in the EHC showroom, 4121 First Ave. S., in Seattle. Matt Freeman-Gleason, founder of EHC, will give an overview of green building and demonstrate green materials.

WSU ecologist helps fight invasive species

PULLMAN — Richard Mack of Washington State University's School of Biological Sciences is on a panel that will report on invasive species Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The panel will announce a set of recommendations to combat biological invaders. Nationwide, invasive species do an estimated $137 billion of environmental and economic damage each year.

Mack said measures to detect and control invasive species will require international coordination.

New members for Puget Sound Partnership

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire announced four new charter members and an additional co-chair for the Puget Sound Partnership. The public-private group is charged with boosting efforts to clean up, protect and restore Puget Sound.

The new members are: Sam Anderson, executive director, Seattle-King County Master Builders Association; Michael Bogert, regional administrator, EPA Region 10; Jim Darling, executive director, Port Of Bellingham; and Patty Lent, Kitsap County Commissioner.

The governor asked Billy Frank, Jr., chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, to serve as a co-chair with her and Bill Ruckelshaus.

The partnership will organize public forums throughout Puget Sound between March and October to help involve more citizens, businesses, conservation groups, scientists and governments.

The public forum schedule will be announced in March.

For information see http://www.pugetsoundpartnership.org.

Environmental Watch: Ecology awards diesel pollution grants

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Ecology announced $2 million in grants to help local governments buy devices that curb pollution from heavy-duty diesel vehicles and equipment.

Transit buses, dump trucks and garbage trucks are among the types of vehicles that will be fitted with emissions control technology.

Stu Clark, Ecology's air-quality program manager, said diesel soot poses the highest cancer risk of any air pollutant. Technology to eliminate up to 99 percent of the toxic emissions generated by diesel vehicles is now readily available, he said.

Forum on the future of St. Edward's park

KIRKLAND — Area residents can learn about plans for St. Edward's State Park at a meeting of the Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. in the social hall of St. John Mary Vianney Catholic Church on Finn Hill.

Rex Derr, director of the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission, and Bill Koss, manager of planning and research for the commission, and DCNA's representative on the park's advisory committee, Ken Davidson, will talk about options for the park.

Suggestions have included converting a former seminary building into a hotel/restaurant/brew pub, an environmental school, housing for Bastyr University or a municipal center for the city of Kenmore. The committee also is studying Kenmore Little League's proposal to add ballfields and night-lighting.

ShoreBank names sustainability officer

FEDERAL WAY — ShoreBank Pacific has named an on-staff sustainability officer to help clients adopt sustainable economic, social and environmental practices.

Lucy Brehm, vice president and five-year veteran with ShoreBank Pacific, is now the sustainability officer. Brehm was national accounts and marketing manager for the bank. In adddion to helping clients, she will also oversee the bank's internal sustainability measures, such as offsetting carbon emissions for all bank operations through The Climate Trust's carbon offset programs.

"By creating a sustainability officer position, we're showing that we're serious about our own accountability as well as our commitment to helping clients adopt business practices that contribute to the health and vitality of the region," said David Williams, ShoreBank Pacific CEO and president.

WWU, Evergreen in green energy top 10

BELLINGHAM — Western Washington University is second on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 10 green energy purchasers in higher education.

Western ranked behind the University of Pennsylvania on the EPA's first Top 10 College and University Partners list of schools with the largest completed renewable energy purchases.

The University of Utah was third, followed by Syracuse University, Duke University, Pennsylvania State University, Harvard University, The Evergreen State College, Oberlin College and the University at Buffalo.

Western and Evergreen were the only colleges or universities on the list receiving 100 percent of their electricity from renewable sources.

Comments sought on stormwater permits

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Ecology is inviting comments on three general permits regulating stormwater runoff pollution from cities, counties and other public districts.

Ecology is issuing drafts of the first Phase II municipal stormwater general permits for both Eastern and Western Washington and re-issuing a draft of the expired Phase I municipal stormwater general permit. Phase I covered cities, counties and other public districts serving over 100,000 people.

Ecology issued the first Phase I municipal stormwater permits in 1995. These permits expired in 2000, but they remain in effect until Ecology issues the new permit.

Federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations established Phase II municipal stormwater rules in 1999. The Phase II permits regulate cities, counties and public districts located in urbanized areas of Washington. Phase II covers areas that generally have more than 1,000 people per square mile.

Ecology will issue two separate Phase II permits, one for Eastern Washington and one for Western Washington.

Ecology will be holding public hearings on these permits in April and May. There will be eight workshops on the proposed draft permits. For information see Ecology's Web page: http://www.ecy.wa.gov.

Livable communities fair April 8

TACOMA — The third Pierce County Livable Communities Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

The free event is held every two years since 2002. More than 150 booths feature such topics as parks and open space, salmon recovery, natural resource conservation, transportation issues, environmental services, emergency preparedness, farm issues and education programs.

In 2004 the event drew 10,000 people. More than 15,000 are anticipated this year.

A look at WSDOT's environmental impact

SEATTLE — The Washington State Department of Transportation's impact on the environmental industry will be the topic of the March 1 meeting of the Northwest Environmental Business Council.

WSDOT Northwest Region Administrator Lorena Eng will discuss current and future WSDOT projects of special interest to those in the environmental industry, including environmental impact studies, mitigation, soil/water testing and land use issues. Eng oversees a biennial budget of $850 million and a staff of 1,400 employees .

The event is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside on Lake Union, 1200 Westlake Ave. N. Cost is $35 for NEBC members and guests and $48 for non-members. For information e-mail linda@nebc.org.

Corps seeks comments on wetland bank

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Department of State Lands are considering a proposal to establish a wetland mitigation bank.

Muddy Creek Mitigation Bank, LLC wants to create a bank southeast of Muddy Creek in Benton County. The 135-acre site would help meet requirements for compensatory mitigation for projects permitted by the Corps.

Comments must be received by March 10. A copy of the public notice can be found at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/OP/g/public.asp.

Environmental Watch: Hydrogeologist joins Kleinfelder

SEATTLE — Kleinfelder said Jim Bailey, RG, L.HG., joined the firm as a principal hydrogeologist and well services director in the Seattle office. Bailey has 22 years of experience in water supply, well services and hydrogeology.

His role will include development of a water supply services group, project management and a technical resource for other Kleinfelder offices.

He has worked on well rehabilitation projects for ASR wells in Portland, horizontal wells in Chillocothe, Ohio, and at well sites in Germany.

A look at toxic chemicals in Puget Sound

SEATTLE — People For Puget Sound and the Puget Sound Action Team are co-hosting, along with other groups and agencies, an evening program on the dangers of toxic chemicals in Puget Sound to orcas, seals and humans.

"Toxics in the Mammals of Puget Sound: Orcas, Seals and Humans" will be held on Wednesday, April 5, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave. in Seattle.

The presenters are orca researcher Peter Ross and Robert Duff, who is involved in human health policy in Washington. It is part of a day-long public forum called "Toxics in Puget Sound: Connecting the Marine Environment to Human Health and the Economy."

Cost is $10 in advance, or $15 at the door, and child care is free. For information or to RSVP go to http://www.pugetsound.org or call Heather Trim at People For Puget Sound, (206) 382-7007.

Beach armoring alternatives studied

SEATTLE — The Puget Sound Action Team awarded a $25,000 contract to Sound GeoServices of Olympia to study shoreline properties that use alternatives to armoring such as bulkheads.

Sound GeoServices will look at projects throughout Puget Sound. The report will be published in July and will be directed at developers, landowners and local government staff.

Alternatives include beach nourishment, bioengineering methods, native plant landscaping and others. For information contact Doug Myers at (360) 725-5451 or dmyers@psat.wa.gov.

Key Peninsula-Islands draft plan done

TACOMA — After two years of study, Pierce County Water Programs is ready to unveil the draft of the Key Peninsula-Islands Basin Plan for public review.

The plan is a guide to surface water management in the Key Peninsula-Islands Basin, addressing water quality, flooding and habitat issues. It also lays out capital improvement needs for the area for the next several years.

A public meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn. The Watershed Council will hold a presentation by Water Programs staff and URS Corp. at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the Peninsula Light Business Office, 13315 Goodnough Drive N.W. in Purdy.

The basin includes the Key Peninsula, the Burley-Minter area, as well as Fox, Anderson, Ketron, and Herron islands.

For information contact Barbara Ann Smolko, water programs project manager, (253) 798-6156.

Roseburg, Ore., fined $15K by Corps

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a final order for a Class 1 administrative penalty of $15,600 against the city of Roseburg for violation of a permit granted under the Clean Water Act.

The permit was issued in 1996 and authorized construction of five transportation and infrastructure projects. The city proposed compensatory mitigation on Newton Creek and Stewart Park.

Corps officials said the permit was violated on two counts. Planting mitigation failed, and the city failed to achieve wetland vegetation standards in later years.

The final order for the penalty becomes effective March 5. The city may file an appeal or request a hearing.

Corps seeks comments on Bradford Island

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comments on alternatives to remove contaminated sediments from Bradford Island at Bonneville Lock and Dam. Written comments on the proposed interim action must be postmarked by March 3.

The Corps has been investigating and doing cleanup work at Bradford Island since 1997.

The report on the alternatives is on the Web at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/bradford/documents.

Written comments should be addressed to Bob Schwarz, Project Manager, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, 400 E. Scenic Drive, Suite 307, The Dalles, OR 97058. E-mail comments should be addressed to Schwarz.bob@deq.state.or.us.

Home environmentalist training offered

SEATTLE — The American Lung Association of Washington is accepting applications for the Master Home Environmentalist spring 2006 volunteer training.

Classes are held March 7 through May 9 in Seattle. The free 35-hour training is Tuesdays from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m., and occasional Saturdays.

Volunteers learn to recognize indoor health hazards, find low or no-cost solutions and conduct home assessments.

Applications are due Feb. 27. For information, contact Georgene Chiou at (206) 441-5100, gchiou@alaw.org or see http://www.alaw.org.

Study: Zooplankton key to salmon

NEWPORT, Ore. (AP) — Tiny sea creatures known as zooplankton may be the key to fattening up juvenile salmon enough to survive in the ocean, a new study says.

A species of zooplankton called copepods that thrive in cold water in the northeast Pacific Ocean have a high level of lipids — or fats — possibly boosting the food chain and allowing salmon to grow fast enough to survive their first year at sea.

The copepods store high amounts of the fats in order to hibernate during the winter, much like bears, according to Oregon State University researchers.

The copepods, in turn, are eaten by juvenile anchovies, herring, smelt and krill, boosting the fat content of those species and making them highly nutritious for young coho and chinook salmon, as well as other predators.

"A fat salmon is a happy salmon," said William Peterson, an oceanographer at the university's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

For years, scientists and the fishing industry have known that "good ocean conditions" are critical to salmon survival and are linked with strong upwelling that brings nutrient-rich deeper waters to the surface. But studies by Peterson and his colleagues shed new light on what makes those conditions favorable for juvenile salmon.

One of the keys to survival is rapid growth for salmon once they enter the ocean, said Peterson, a NOAA Fisheries scientist who also teaches at the university.

"The salmon are roughly 6 or 7 inches long when they enter the ocean and are about the same size as adult herring and anchovies that make them ideal prey for birds and larger fish," Peterson said.

"But salmon have the ability to grow tremendously fast — and they have to," he said.

The salmon also must store enough fat to prevent starvation during their first winter.

Environmental Watch: Landau makes promotions, new hires

EDMONDS — Landau Associates, an engineering and environmental consulting firm based in Edmonds, has promoted several employees.

In the Edmonds office, Charles "Chip" Halbert is now development services manager, Michelle Ramos is geotechnical group manager, Benni Jonsson is staff engineer, Shannon Moore is senior project scientist and Anne Halvorsen is senior project scientist. In the Tacoma office, Jennifer Olson was promoted to project scientist, and James Wilson is now project engineer.

The firm also made some new hires: Anthony Katsaros, AICP, senior environmental planner, Sacha Maxwell, staff scientist, and Chris Anderson, staff scientist. Katsaros has experience in environmental and land use planning, and permitting. Maxwell is completing her wetland certification through the University of Washington. Anderson has experience in NEPA/SEPA compliance, environmental documentation and biological assessments. Gary Huitsing, staff engineer, and Dana Olcott, senior staff engineer, both in the Edmonds Office, recently passed the P.E. exam.

State geologic map wins design awards

OLYMPIA — The new geologic map of Washington state won Best Map of 2005 and Best Geologic Map in the international Avenza 2005 MAPublisher Competition.

The map was created by the Division of Geology and Earth Resources in the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. It is the first new 1:500,000-scale geologic map of Washington published since 1961.

The division's geologic maps are the basis for applied and basic earth-science investigations. Geologic mapping is essential for landslide, earthquake, volcanic, hydrologic, mineral resource, engineering and watershed studies.

The winning submissions, as well as notable entries in each category, are posted on the Avenza Web site at http://www.avenza.com/MPcomp/2005/

The map may be purchased from the Washington State Department of Printing at http://www.prt.wa.gov/ or downloaded from http://www.dnr.wa.gov/geology/pdf/gm53.zip

State seeks trail program advisors

OLYMPIA — The state Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation is looking for three volunteers to fill vacancies on its National Recreational Trails Program advisory committee.

The committee advises on policies, funding and planning. The terms run through December 2009.

The openings are for motorized trail recreation, and for nonmotorized trail recreation for water trails and mountain biking. The program has provided more than $1 million annually for trails.

Application are due by March 8 and are available online at http://www.iac.wa.gov or by calling Lorinda Anderson at (360) 902-3009 or e-mailing her at lorindaa@iac.wa.gov.

Everett port joins environmental program

EVERETT — The Port of Everett has been accepted to the Environmental Management System program through the American Association of Port Authorities.

The program helps an organization analyze and improve the environmental impacts of its activities. During the 18-month program, the port will do training, make site visits and share documents to strengthen its environmental efforts.

Nine ports nationwide were selected to participate in this round of EMS training. Everett is the second port in the state to initiate such a program, along with the Port of Vancouver USA.

Then program is designed to improve environmental and relationships with regulators, and to reduce costs for insurance, waste disposal and energy use. For more information contact Lisa Mandt, community relations representative, at (425) 388-0617 or lisam@portofeverett.com.

Recycling increases, but so does waste

OLYMPIA — Recycling by businesses and residents in Washington rose to 42 percent in 2004, up from 38 percent the year before, according to new numbers from the state Department of Ecology. Gains were made in metals, paper and yard-waste recycling.

Other types of re-use and recycling are easing the pressure on landfills, even though they are not part of officially counted recycling, Ecology said, including land-clearing debris, concrete, carpet and pads, furniture, construction and demolition debris, mattresses, batteries, paint and clothing.

Coupled with the officially counted recycled items, the statewide rate for diverted materials would be 48 percent, up from 47 percent in 2003, according to Ecology.

"To have almost half of the waste generated in Washington diverted away from landfills is a great success story," said Cullen Stephenson, who manages Ecology's solid-waste program.

But while recycling has increased, the total amount of waste generated has continued to climb. Currently, Washington residents produce an average of 7.5 pounds of waste per person each day, compared to 7 pounds a day in 2003.

WWU among U.S.'s top green power users

BELLINGHAM — Western Washington University is once again on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 25 green power purchasers.

WWU President Karen W. Morse said, "Our green power purchase demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and is consistent with Western's values and mission."

The federal government is the nation's largest purchaser, with the U.S. Air Force as the top federal agency purchaser. Whole Foods Market is the largest U.S. corporate purchaser.

Western's renewable energy program was started two years ago by a group of Western students. It became the first university in the country to charge a student fee to purchase green energy.