February 4, 2003

Environmental Watch: Tacoma port picks environmental manager

TACOMA -- The Port of Tacoma has named Michael Shaw environmental project manager

He is responsible for numerous development and habitat projects with the port's Environmental Department.

Prior to joining the port, Shaw was senior biologist with Pacific International Engineering of Edmonds. He also has worked for Edmonds-based Landau Associates and Roy F. Weston Inc. of Seattle. Shaw earned a master's degree in biology from Western Washington University and a B.A. in zoology from Northern Arizona University.

Green building event set for Pittsburgh

PORTLAND -- Jerry Yudelson, sustainability director at Interface Engineering in Portland, has been named vice chair of the Steering Committee for the U.S. Green Building Council’s annual trade show and conference.

The second-annual Green Building International Conference and Exposition will be in Pittsburgh in November. The November 2004 show will be in Portland. The Portland show is expected to draw 6,000 to 8,000 people and over 500 exhibitors.

Renewable power gets a boost in new bill

OLYMPIA -- Freshman state Rep. Zack Hudgins has introduced a bill to increase the amount of renewable energy that Washington utilities must buy.

House Bill 1544 would establish an Energy Portfolio Standard. The Tukwila Democrat said the EPS would set modest requirements for electric utilities to gradually increase the amount of energy they acquire from renewable resources, such as wind, biomass, geothermal and solar. It would also require utilities to reduce their energy load by helping customers and business reduce electricity use.

Teanaway fish counts take a big jump

YAKIMA -- The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says that fish on a stretch of the Teanaway River appear to be making a major comeback after seven years of work.

Runoff declines coupled with peak demand for irrigation often left sections of the Teanaway without water. This stymied the migration of anadromous fish and affected the Yakama Nation's hatchery at its Jack Creek Acclimation Facility on the North Fork Teanaway River.

Biologist began counting redds, or spawning nests, in the Teanaway basin in 1981. In 13 of the next 19 years, no redds were counted; the highest count was 6 in 1989. The bureau's project began in 1996. In 2000 and 2001, 21 redds were observed. Last year, 110 were spotted.

As part of the project, the bureau leased irrigation water rights to provide a temporary but immediate increase of in-stream flows. Some farm land was allowed to go dry.

With Bonneville Power Administration funding, the Yakamas built pumping plants and pressurized irrigation water delivery systems for three irrigators. The bureau hired Concord Construction to build these in 2000 for $3.5 million to replace 19th century gravity-flow systems. Diversion points were moved downstream to increase upstream flows.

The bureau did most of the work in house, though Geomax, a Spokane engineering company, designed in-stream rock water control structures that Scherzinger called a small but significant piece of the project.

Input sought on Seattle solid waste plan

SEATTLE -- Seattle Public Utilities is seeking input on its Solid Waste Facilities Master Plan, which will affect facilities for 30 years.

Ultimately, millions of dollars will be at stake as the city prepares the plan. During the conceptual design planning, the city may award as much as $350,000 to consultants. Once the City Council approves the plan, millions of dollars in design and construction work will hit the market.

The plan will guide improvements to the city’s solid waste facilities, including the two city-owned recycling and disposal stations. One is between Wallingford and Fremont neighborhood and the other's in South Park.

During the initial scoping phase, SPU will host two forums. The first is Feb. 11 at Hamilton Middle School, 1610 N. 41st St., and the second is Feb. 13 at the SPARC Building, 8201 10th Ave. S. Each is from 6:30 - 9 p.m.

Over the next six months, SPU will develop and refine options, analyze the cost and feasibility of the options, make recommendations to Mayor Greg Nickels and the City Council, and, finally, develop an implementation approach. Additional public meetings will be held in April to get input on draft alternatives.

For more information, contact Henry Friedman at (206) 733-9147 or Henry.Friedman<@>seattle.gov, or see http://www.seattle.gov/util.

Conservation measures pay off for city

SEATTLE -- The region’s water supply conditions improved significantly in January when nearly 13 inches fell this month in the watersheds. This rain means that there is no longer a need for voluntary curtailment. But Seattle Public Utilities officials say snow-pack levels still are only 35 percent of normal.

During December, SPU used reservoir storage to augment natural flows for spawning salmon while continuing to provide water to people.

Citizens took the city's conservation calls to heart. Current winter water consumption is the lowest seen by SPU since the mid-1960s, despite 40 years of growth in the region.

Ecology wants tougher incinerator rules

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Ecology is proposing to amend the state administrative code's Chapter 173-434 for solid waste incinerator facilities.

The proposed amendments would replace existing requirements in the WAC with the Environmental Protection Agency’s most stringent waste incinerator rules. Ecology officials say this would mean significantly tighter controls on incineration of solid waste, including municipal solid waste. It would also mean the rules would apply to a wider range of facilities.

The proposal would affect the Kimberly-Clark mill in Everett and the Tacoma steam plant, Ecology officials say.

Under certain specified conditions, burning of creosote-treated wood would no longer be covered by this regulation as a result of these amendments. Burning of creosote-treated wood would still be regulated under other rules.

The proposed amendments replace design and operation requirements for solid waste incinerator facilities with emission limitations. Instead of regulating a facility based on the way it was built and how it operates, agencies would regulate it based on how much air pollution it emits.

Ecology believes this is a more effective and practical way to manage solid waste incinerator facilities because it focuses on limiting air pollution, while allowing facilities to have more flexibility in the way they operate.

The WAC establishes emission standards, design requirements and performance standards for facilities that incinerate more than 12 tons of solid waste per day. There are currently three facilities in Washington that burn more than 12 tons per day of solid waste. They are in Tacoma, Everett, and Spokane.

Olympia transit agency tries biodiesel

OLYMPIA -- Thurston County's Intercity Transit has begun using biodiesel in its fleet of 67 buses.

Biodiesel is made from natural, renewable resources, such as plant vegetable oils. More businesses are using the cleaner burning material, though Intercity is the only transit district in Washington using it.

The agency is fueling buses with a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel called B20. The agency tested biodiesel last year and said it found no operational difficulties. In fact, officials say they think that because biodiesel acts as a fuel lubricant, it may extend the life of engine components.

Long-term use of biodiesel will depend on pricing, availability and performance, according to the agency.

Pesticide conference set for Feb. 26 in Yakima

YAKIMA -- The Pacific Northwest Pesticide Issues Conference will be Feb. 26 at the Doubletree Hotel in Yakima. The conference is for grower associations, growers, foresters, agri-chemical dealers, crop consultants, state and federal regulators, the medical community, university researchers and extension educators.

It’s sponsored by Washington State University and the University of Washington. The fee is $90 before Feb. 4 and $120 after that. For information, contact the WSU Cooperative Extension Event and Program Support Office at (509) 335-2830 or see http://depts.washington.edu/pnash/ceconference/main.html.

Sustainable landscape and building classes

SEATTLE -- As part of its Living Green program, Seattle Parks and Recreation is offering a series of free classes on sustainable landscapes and green building starting this month.

“Building a Healthy Watershed: Examining the Potential of the Green Building Process” focuses on affordable ways to recycle construction debris; reduce energy, water and resource consumption; and learn about sustainable building materials. The two-hour workshops begin at 7:30 p.m.

On Feb. 18, the workshop will look at creative uses of space and explore making the most of the space you already have by converting existing basements, attics, garages and outdoor spaces. On Feb. 25, the topic is cutting-edge passive and active solar energy systems as well as the latest in site water catchment systems. On March 18, the topic will be indoor toxins and pollution, air/water quality, acoustics and cleansing indoor plants. And on March 25, learn what makes a material green, where to find green products and what they really cost.

The classes are for Seattle-area residents and are being held at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N. Call (206) 783-2244 to reserve space or see http://www.phinneycenter.org for more information.