August 5, 2003

Environmental Watch: Promotions and new hires at Landau

Johnston

Bower

The Edmonds-based firm named principal Steve Johnston as president and CEO; principal Jay Bower as chief operating officer; and principal Larry Beard as quality and training director. It promoted Diana Badowski to business development director; Martin Powers to associate and environmental services director; Eric Weber to associate and Tacoma office manager; Joe Kalmar to senior engineer; and Sean Cool to project geotechnical engineer.

For its Edmonds office, Landau hired geologist Cathy Kilday, engineer Gary Huitsing, geotechnical engineer Brian Bennetts, geologist Erik Gerking, assistant geologist Mike Buckley, technician Todd McKenney, marketing proposal coordinator Marni Kintner, computer network support specialist Jake Pellham, project coordinator April Wallace and graphic designer Emily Batchelor.

The firm hired geotechnical engineer James Wilson for its Tacoma office. For its Portland office Landau hired geologist Leslie Driver-Rowe, geotechnical engineer Ben Hoffman and project coordinator Clarice Sieckman. It added project coordinator Pam Stevens y Perez to its Spokane office.

Clayton Group Services adds staff

SEATTLE -- Clayton Group Services, an environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Administration consulting and services firm, added insurance services and business development director Bruce D. Hollcroft to its Seattle office.

Michigan-based Clayton Group Services specializes in environmental due diligence regulatory compliance, soil and groundwater remediation, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, ergonomics, and asbestos and mold assessment and remediation.

Hollcroft has more than 20 years' experience in risk control related to ergonomics, environmental protection, workers' compensation and OSHA regulations. He is also a certified safety professional with experience in accident investigation, behavior-based safety and safety management.

Sept. 4 workshop on wetland, streams

EVERETT -- The Adopt-A-Stream Foundation is inviting Realtors, developers, waterfront property owners and others to a Sept. 4 workshop on stream and wetland ecology.

The 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. workshop in the Northwest Stream Center, 600 128th St. S.E. in Everett, will cover wetland terminology, types and functions, and government agencies' role in wetlands.

Adopt-A-Stream instructors and representatives of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and Snohomish County Planning and Development Services will discuss the latest local, state and federal regulations. The $74 fee includes a textbook.

For more information or for a registration form, call Sue Minger at (425) 316-8592.

Apply for environmental improvement funds

OLYMPIA -- Washington residents, businesses, organizations and educational and public-interest groups can apply for up to $45,000 each in Puget Sound enhancement and protection funds.

The Puget Sound Action Team, a partnership of state, local, federal and tribal groups, plans to award a total of $450,000 for projects addressing Puget Sound shorelines, fish-recovery, stormwater runoff and contamination of local water sources. The deadline for applications is Oct. 13.

For more information, visit the Puget Sound Action Team online at www.psat.wa.gov or call (800) 547-6863.

Pierce County considers habitat package

TACOMA -- Pierce County leaders are proposing a 600-page land-use plan that could affect wetlands, roads, trees, stormwater, fish, wildlife and other key environmental issues in unincorporated Pierce County, the Tacoma News-Tribune reports.

Launched by County Executive John Ladenburg, the "habitat protection and restoration" package includes measures such as tightening preservation of natural vegetation and open space, and raising standards for installing bulkheads along waterfront properties in unincorporated county areas where 332,980 people live.

Pierce County also wants a tree-preservation ordinance and a low-impact development ordinance to promote environmentally sensitive building practices, according to the News-Tribune.

Environmentalists are criticizing the plan for falling short in areas, while builders are saying its regulations are too tight. For more information, visit www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/services/home/property/pals/landuse/esa/htm.

EPA may relax air rules on older plants

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration said last week it will reconsider parts of new clean air rules it completed last New Year's Eve. Those rules relaxed earlier regulations on dealing with air pollution when older industrial plants expand, make major repairs or modify operations to increase efficiency.

White House and United States Environmental Protection Agency officials say the regulations as interpreted by the Clinton administration created disincentives for companies to reduce pollution. Environmental groups and states downwind from the biggest industrial sources of air pollution sued to overturn the rules immediately after they were issued, saying they undermined efforts to protect public health.

Some of the rules involve: an analysis saying EPA revisions will lead to less pollution than past rules; whether facilities that modernize have to keep records and file certain reports about pollution levels. allowing plants with numerous pollution sources to increase pollution from some sources as long as overall air emissions are not increased; and how emission increases are measured when smokestacks, boilers and generators are replaced.

EPA will accept public comment for 30 days. For more information, visit EPA at www.epa.gov/nsr or the Natural Resources Defense Council at www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/pnsr.asp.

Dry fall here may force water restrictions

SEATTLE -- Seattle's water supply should run deep enough to quench the city through this hot, dry summer, but residents may be asked to scale back water use if the city experiences an unusually dry fall.

Seattle reservoirs are running at about 80 percent of normal capacity for this time of year, after starting off the summer nearly full after 2002's dry fall and winter, according to Seattle Public Utilities. The local water supply tends to survive hot, dry summers, but SPU says the supply can suffer when summer is flanked by a dry winter, spring and fall.

While dry conditions have yet to hurt the water supply for humans, the conditions have lowered stream flows for fish, creating tough conditions for young salmon and bull trout. For updates on how water-supply conditions are affecting humans and fish, visit www.seattle.gov/util/watersupply/.