April 29, 2003

Environmental Watch: Robinson & Noble opens new division

Hildenbrand

TACOMA -- Robinson & Noble has hired John Hildenbrand as manager/senior environmental scientist, heading the company's new Environmental Services Division.

With the addition of Hildenbrand, company officials say they will expand the business line to include a variety of environmental services. Hildenbrand's expertise covers several environmental, and health and safety arenas, including design and execution of assessment, investigation and remediation projects, collegiate level teaching, employee training/development and regulatory compliance.

AMEC adds principal in Kirkland

Hoffman

KIRKLAND -- Steven Hoffman, P.E., has joined AMEC's Earth & Environmental office in Kirkland as a principal.

Hoffman has more than three decades of environmental engineering expertise. He has worked on all phases of project delivery in hazardous waste management and site remediation, solid waste management, regulatory compliance, technology development and testing, surface water management, environmental impact analysis and wastewater treatment.

Ruth Kees honored for creek work

BELLEVUE -- Ruth Kees of Issaquah won Washington's highest environmental honor for her 42 years of activism to protect the Issaquah Creek watershed.

The Department of Ecology last week presented Kees its Environmental Excellence Award.

Officials say her interest in sustainable development led her to examine how land-use decisions would affect the region. She has shared her knowledge with other activists and has worked to ensure growth occurs in a reasonable and responsible manner, officials said.

Ecology seeks EPA help with Columbia

SPOKANE -- State regulators and a Native American tribe want the federal government to oversee a cleanup of heavy metals from Canada and other contaminants that have polluted Lake Roosevelt on the Columbia River, the Portland Oregonian reports.

In comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington Department of Ecology says the EPA should take the lead because the pollution crosses the international border.

Ecology supports a Superfund designation for Lake Roosevelt based on recent EPA findings, said Guy Gregory, senior hydrologist with the department's toxics cleanup program.

The Colville Tribes petitioned the EPA to study the lake and 21 nearby mines. Based on sediment samples in 2001, the lake from Inchelium to Canada qualifies for Superfund listing because of hazards to aquatic life from heavy metals, said Monica Tonel, the EPA's Lake Roosevelt site manager.

Some Eastern Washington county commissioners, who fear Superfund designation will slow the cleanup and hinder tourism, are calling for local control of a proposed cleanup.

Snohomish tributaries cleanup plan proposed

BELLEVUE -- Dozens of small steps make up a plan to curb bacterial pollution in rivers and creeks that flow into the lower Snohomish River.

The state Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on a proposed cleanup of watersheds where streams have high levels of fecal coliform pollution. They are the Quilceda-Allen, Pilchuck, French Creek, Woods Creek and Snohomish Marshlands. Many of the water bodies in the area do not meet state standards for swimming and wading.

The plan incorporates pet-waste reduction programs, technical assistance for septic system owners, farm-plan assistance for livestock owners, improved stormwater management and stream monitoring.

The plan is at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/snoho_tribs/index.html. Ecology is accepting public comments through May 16.

Soos Creek Organics draws complaints

COVINGTON -- Even though regulating agencies have given Soos Creek Organics satisfactory ratings, city officials say the composting grass smell is still a problem.

The King County Journal reports the city of Covington logged 11 recent odor complaints. The plant has invested about $200,000 to design and build a biofiltration system to trap odors, and plans to build a $100,000 facility where materials can be dumped in an enclosed area.

"We understand that we have to be good neighbor," John Sinclair, owner of the company, told the Journal. "We're not hesitating to spend the money."

Soos Creek Organics composts organic vegetable matter for reuse in landscaping and construction projects. The Journal reported that Covington officials say if the smell doesn't go away, the city may consider closing the operation.

Locke pledges reduction of mercury pollution

SEATTLE -- Gov. Gary Locke and several business leaders last week announced a statewide campaign to curb mercury pollution in Washington.

The Seattle Mariners, Puget Sound Energy and Unico Properties pledged to recycle fluorescent and other mercury-containing lights. Locke said state agencies will recycle similar lights.

State officials estimate about a ton of mercury waste can be kept out of Washington's environment each year by recycling fluorescent lights, thermostats and thermometers.

Action Team meeting in Shelton May 7

SHELTON -- The Puget Sound Action Team's advisory council will host a regional meeting in Shelton at 10 a.m. May 7 to learn from Mason and Thurston county officials what's working and what's not in efforts to protect the sound.

The meeting will be at the Shelton Civic Center, 525 W. Cota. At 2:30, there will be a tour of Taylor Shellfish Farm in Oakland Bay.

Topics include the Squaxin Island Indian Tribe's nearshore habitat assessments, the counties' shellfish restoration efforts and strategic priorities for the Action Team.

Eisenberg to address EcoBuilding Guild

SEATTLE -- David Eisenberg cofounder and director of the Development Center for Appropriate Technology, will speak at the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild's 7 p.m. May 13 meeting at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E.

Eisenberg is leading the movement to incorporate sustainability into building codes, according to the guild, which encourages designers, architects, builders and developers to attend.

The meeting is free to guild members and $10 for others. Register by May 9 by sending or phoning your name, company name, and business e-mail and mailing address to cpschapter<@>ecobuilding.org or (206) 389-7281.