November 5, 2002

Environmental Watch: Winding up a record dry streak

SEATTLE -- The period from July through October was the driest on record at Sea-Tac Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

Just 1.57 inches of precipitation was recorded. The previous low-water mark was 1.9 inches in 1987. October was particularly dry. The weather service says that only 0.66 inches of rain fell. Typically, Seattle receives 3.19 inches.

The Puget Sound region should start catching up on rain tomorrow, according to the forecast. "The coast should certainly get something," said meteorologist Jeff Rood. "Even into the Cascades we should get some rain. Later in the week, we may get something more significant."

State mulls new irrigation rules

To encourage further water conservation, the state Department of Ecology is proposing to make several changes to the Agricultural Water Supply Facilities rule, or WAC 173-170.

Under this voluntary program, Ecology provides grants and loans to public irrigation districts to help repair ditches, pipes and other irrigation systems.

Competing demands on state water supplies have made it more difficult to obtain water for ag purposes, so irrigation districts have sought to improve the efficiency of their systems. Ecology is proposing a number of amendments to the rule to provide additional flexibility for making efficient and timely use of the remaining funds.

Ecology is proposing to: raise the limit from $1.5 million to $2.5 million on the amount of funds an entity can receive; exempt the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project proposals from the funding cap to meet state obligations; provide flexibility to increase grant monies awarded for projects with significant public benefit; restrict funding of emergency projects to loans only; and exempt repaid loans from the limit.

A formal public comment period and hearings will be held in February. A copy of the proposed rule is at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/wrhome.html; click on Agricultural Water Supply Facilities Rule.

Olympic marine sanctuary expanded

PORT ANGELES -- The buffer zone designed to protect the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary will pushed farther out to sea Dec. 1.

The sanctuary, a 3,310-square-mile area, runs from the mouth of the Copalis River near Grays Harbor north to Cape Flattery. The sanctuary provides habitat for one of the most diverse marine mammal faunas in North America.

As part of the change, the shipping lanes are also being pushed out. The Coast Guard already has moved the J Buoy 11 miles farther west.

The idea is to protect the sanctuary from oil spills. The old buffer zone was smaller and allowed more ships to pass through the sanctuary. Ships are not required to stay out of the area; compliance is voluntary. But Bob Steelquist, a spokesman for the sanctuary, said that over the years compliance by ships has grown steadily.

One more chance to see salmon spawn

RENTON -- Volunteer naturalists will be on hand one last time this fall on the Cedar River to show folks spawning salmon and tell the story of the epic journey of the river's salmon.

The volunteers have been sharing their knowledge on weekends since last month. The last of the presentations will be from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Nov. 9 at four locations: the Renton Library, Riverview Park, Cavanaugh Pond and Landsburg Park.

The library is in downtown Renton at 100 Mill St. Riverview Park is on the south side of the Maple Valley Highway (state Route 169) two miles east of the Interstate 405 overpass. Cavanaugh Park is on the north side of 169, less than one mile east of 149th Avenue Southeast.

To get to Landsburg Park, follow 169 southeast to Kent-Kangley Road (state Route 516) and the Four Corners Shopping Center, which is about 2 miles south of state Route 18. Turn left onto Kent-Kangley and take the next left onto Summit Landsburg Road. Turn left onto Landsburg Road, also known as 276th Avenue Southeast. Cross the Cedar and look for Landsburg Park parking on either side of the road just after the bridge.

For more information, telephone (206) 205-3888. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities will be provided by contacting (206) 296-8359 or TTY: (800) 833-6388.

California may ban dry cleaning solvent

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (AP) -- Southern California's air-quality regulators are considering a ban of the most commonly used dry cleaning solvent as a health hazard.

If adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District board, the measure would make the greater Los Angeles area the first region in the country to ban perchloroethylene, or perc. The distinctive-smelling chemical would be phased out by 2019.

More than 300 dry cleaners from across Southern California attended the meeting, many wearing black armbands in protest.

Perc has been linked to cancers of the lung, cervix, esophagus and bladder in dry cleaning workers, agency officials said.

New York, San Francisco and other cities heavily regulate the use of perc, but none has been banned it.

Southern California's clean-air agency grabbed national attention previously by passing regulations targeting house paint, diesel engines and power plants.

Under the proposal, new dry cleaners or existing cleaners adding equipment would have to buy non-perc machines after Jan. 1. After July 1, 2004, any dry cleaning machine that is replaced or is 15 or more years old would have to be replaced with a non-perc machine.

Portland picked for 2004 conference

PORTLAND -- The Oregon Convention Center will host the 2004 U.S. Green Building Council International Conference and Exposition Nov. 17-19.

The expo is one of the world's largest showcases of leading-edge technology, products and services for the green-building industry. More than 3,000 engineers, architects and developers are expected.

The inaugural 2002 Green Building Council conference will be Nov. 13-15 in Austin, Texas. For more details, see www.usgbc.org.

Salmon summit set for Upper Columbia

CHELAN -- The Upper Columbia Group and the Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board are presenting the first Upper Columbia Salmon Summit Nov. 21 - 23 at Campbell's Resort in Chelan.

For details, telephone (509) 422-3198 or see http://www.ucrfeg.org/Summit2002/index.htm.

Meetings, workshops planned

SEATTLE -- Following is a list of classes and workshops in the greater Seattle area.

• Building professionals can learn how to construct homes and commercial buildings while protecting soil and water at one of seven workshops that the Washington Organic Recycling Council is conducting. Each is from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Workshops will be Nov. 14 in Lacey; Feb. 4 in Everett; Feb. 11 in Puyallup; Feb. 25 in Kirkland; March 11 in Mount Vernon; March 18 in Silverdale; and March 25 in Shoreline. See www.compostwashington.org for details.

• A full-day conference of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties Built Green program will be Nov. 22 at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood. Registration is $85, with $10 discounts for Built Green members. Contact the MBA's Kelly Lykken at klykken@mba-ks.com or (425) 451-7920, extension 12.

• Seattle Public Utilities and King County will present free Naturescaping Workshops Nov. 6 and Nov. 14. They'll show how to create low-maintenance landscapes that are healthier for people and wildlife. Both are from 6:30 - 9 p.m. The Nov. 6 workshop is at the King County Library System Service Center, 960 Newport Way N.W. in Issaquah, and the Nov. 14 one is at the Pritchard Beach Bathhouse, 8400 55th St., Seattle. On Nov. 16, workshop participants can participate in a native plant salvage. To register, contact Bob Spencer at (206) 684-4163 or bob.spencer@seattle.gov.

• The Northwest Green Power Forum, a day-and a half event designed to give utilities information to market green power, will be at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Portland Nov. 19-20. See www.nwppa.org or call (360) 254-5731.

• The Nov. 21-22 seminar Wetlands in Washington will cover new regulations and requirements. The Law Seminars International conference will be at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle. Email registrar@lawseminars; write 800 Fifth Ave., Suite 101, Seattle, WA 98104; telephone (206) 621-1938 or (800) 854-8009; or fax (206) 567-5058.