June 3, 2003

Environmental Watch: Study: Pre-1994 stream buffers too narrow

PORTLAND -- While fish and nonfish species are protected by streamside buffers required on federal lands since 1994, many Pacific Northwest nonfish species are not adequately protected by buffers prior to 1994, according to a recent study.

A key element of 1994's Northwest Forest Plan, designed by the Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team to protect water and water-side habitats, was the buffering of federal rivers and streams. While this protection is being served by buffers added since 1994, many buffers put in place in earlier years are too narrow to protect amphibians and other nonfish species, according to the Portland-based Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Researchers found that amphibian populations decline sharply with narrow buffers and after timber harvests. After examining 62 Olympic Peninsula streams and riparian zones between 1996 and 1999, researchers concluded that streamside habitats may be served best by buffers of varying widths.

Clean energy group hires Moulton

OLYMPIA -- A long time Nisqually River Management Program public affairs manager has been hired to oversee the growth and development of Harvesting Clean Energy, a regional network formed two years ago to develop rural clean energy sources.

Peter Moulton joins Harvesting Cleaning Energy after overseeing public involvement and governmental coordination for a program that managed a 500,000-acre watershed stretching from Mount Rainier to Puget Sound.

Initiated by Climate Solutions in 2001, Harvesting Clean Energy holds yearly conferences and manages a rural clean energy action plan. As the network's first-ever outreach coordinator, Moulton will edit the Harvesting Clean Energy Bulletin. He will also coordinate Climate Solutions to the Our Wind Co-op, an effort to place small-scale wind turbines on rural sites.

45,000 worms eat museum's food waste

PORTLAND -- Curators at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry hope a new exhibit will compel observers to do more than just squirm.

Kitchen waste from the museum cafe is being placed in a 30-square-foot bin holding nearly 45,000 red worms, which digest the food and recycle it as a nutrient-rich organic material that resembles fine-textured soil.

The museum targeted "vermicomposting" after a waste stream analysis determined that composting kitchen scraps could eliminate more than 10 dump loads of food waste that was going from the museum into landfills.

The year-long exhibit, which opened May 29, was funded by a $18,500 grant by Metro's Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. Worms consume at least half their weight each day in food, and the new worm-bin exhibit highlights a clean, odorless way to cut organic waste, according to the museum. The museum cafe generates 40 to 75 pounds of food scraps per day.

Thirty pounds of small, thin, red worms (or Eisenia foetida) living in the bin can consume that amount in less than three days, recycling the food as castings that can be used as mulch or soil conditioner for indoor or outdoor garden use.

EPA honors Seattle for climate protection

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Seattle for the city's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and become completely "climate neutral" by the end of next year.

The EPA presents Climate Protection Awards to public- and private-sector individuals and organizations that demonstrate originality, public purpose, leadership, corporate responsibility, global perspective and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA chooses climate award winners after recommendations are reviewed by a panel of judges representing government, industry and non-governmental organizations. The EPA lauded Seattle for 2000 emissions that were 60 percent below 1990 levels, according to the city's greenhouse gas inventory. It also recognized Seattle City Light's energy conservation and renewable energy programs.

WWU wins marine research grant

BELLINGHAM -- Western Washington University's Shannon Point Marine Center won a $164,673 grant to buy instruments that measure the responses of marine organisms to changing environmental conditions.

Matched with $70,754 in university funds, the National Science Foundation Grant will help the research center in Anacortes buy sophisticated equipment that measures physiological and biochemical responses.

The tools, which include a high-performance liquid chromatograph and a mass spectrometer, will be useful for faculty and students investigating marine food webs and how organisms use chemicals to protect themselves against predation and ultraviolet radiation.

Shannon Point scientists Kathy Van Alstyne, Brian Bingham and Suzanne Strom submitted the proposal that earned the grant. For more information on the grant, contact Kathy Van Alstyne at (360) 650-7400.

Consulting firm relocates, expands office

SEATTLE -- The national consulting firm Environmental Science Associates has relocated its Northwest regional office to the Dexter Horton Building, at Second Avenue and Cherry Street.

ESA, which also has offices in California, Florida and New Mexico, offers consulting services to airports, government agencies, private developers, natural resource managers, and water, wastewater, electric and solid waste utilities.

Recent Northwest projects include assisting King County with its Brightwater Treatment Facilities citing process; preparing an environmental impact statement for the Bonneville Power Administration’s Northeast Oregon Hatchery Spring Chinook Project; developing an anchoring and moorage plan for Bainbridge Island; and helping state and local air pollution control managers establish goals for Washington state.

Sea-Tac wins recycling award

SEATTLE -- The Washington State Recycling Association named Seattle-Tacoma International Airport the agency's "Recycling Business of the Year" for 2003.

The Port of Seattle was recognized for cutting waste tonnages sent to the landfill by 30 percent and increasing recycled material tonnages by more than 260 percent over the past two years.

The Port's airport recycling program saves approximately $100,000 per year in deferred landfill costs.

The award also recognized Sea-Tac for installing recycling boxes and tote bins; setting up glass-recycling stations; working with contractors and Port maintenance to recycle wood products and scrap metals; and displaying posters that encourage recycling and buying recycled products.