September 16, 2003

Environmental Watch: Workshop looks at new DDES permit rules

BELLEVUE -- A King County Department of Development and Environmental Services and Master Builders Association workshop next month will focus on recent changes to the DDES permit process and fee system.

County officials at the Oct. 6 workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Master Builders Conference Room at 335 116th Ave. S.E. in Bellevue will also discuss the financial guarantee (bonding) process, low-impact development trends and the 2004 Comprehensive Plan.

Registration is $35 at the door, or send checks payable to King County DDES to Cathy Ortiz, King County DDES, 900 Oakesdale Ave. S.W., Renton, WA 98055-1219. For details call Cathy Ortiz at (206) 296-6704 or Paula Adams at (206) 296-6682. Register online at www.metrokc.gov/ddes.

Oct. 16 seminar on LEED strategies

SEATTLE -- Green building consultant Paladino and Co. will lead talks on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design strategies at an all-day seminar Oct. 16 in the Mountaineers Building at 300 Third Ave. W. in lower Queen Anne.

Representatives of Paladino, which wrote "The LEED Reference Guide," will discuss how LEED measures can cut operation, maintenance, utility and materials costs and improve occupant health and productivity.

Mahlum Architects, Keen Engineering, Portico Group, Lighting Design Lab, 2020 Engineering and Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment will also take part in technical discussions, exercises and case studies.

The seminar is part of the University of Washington College of Architecture and Urban Planning's Continuing Professional Education Program. The cost is $300. For details, visit www.caup.washington.edu, call Lyn Firkins at (206) 685-8222 or email jasper@u.washington.edu.

Wood experts give eco-friendly advice

SEATTLE -- Three local wood experts will discuss environmentally friendly wood options Sept. 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the basement of the Brick Building behind the Phinney Neighborhood Association at 6532 Phinney Ave. N.

Jim Newson of Urban Hardwoods will talk about his mini-mill, which provides Pacific madrone, sweet gum and other wood from construction sites, storm-damaged trees and urban thinning operations. Patti Southard of Environmental Home Center will discuss Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, and a representative of Second Use Building Materials will discuss salvaged wood options.

The meeting is free for Northwest Eco Building Guild members and $5 for non-members. For details, call Thor Peterson at (206) 615-0731.

Meetings on Southend creek basin plans

BURIEN -- Two upcoming public meetings will discuss habitat, water-quality and stormwater issues facing the Miller, Walker and Salmon creek basins.

The Port of Seattle, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Washington State Department of Transportation and cities of Burien, Normandy Park and SeaTac are working on plans for the creek basins.

Representatives will discuss the Salmon Creek basin plan Sept. 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the gym of Shorewood Elementary School at 2725 S.W. 116th St. The Miller and Walker creek basins will be the focus of an Oct. 2 meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Criminal Justice Training Center at 19010 First Ave. S.

For information, call King County Project Manager Bruce Bennett at (206) 296-1952 or the Burien Public Works Department at (206) 248-5521.

Corps seeks new ways to manage sediment

PORTLAND -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this month is launching a demonstration project on regional sediment management at the mouth of the Columbia River littoral zone.

The project runs from Point Grenville in Washington to Tillamook Head, Ore., and to River Mile 7 of the Columbia River. It is part of a national initiative to coordinate dredging activities in coastal zones, retain sand in littoral systems and cut project costs.

Gregg Walker and Pat Corcoran of Oregon State University will conduct workshops. For information, call Doris J. McKillip at (503) 808-4348 or e-mail Doris.J.Mckillip@usace.army.mil. To read an Institute for Water Resources regional sediment management report, visit www.iwr.usace.army.mil/iwr/pdf/02ps2sed_man.pdf.

$500,000 stormwater study for Thea Foss

TACOMA -- The city of Tacoma will use a $500,000 Washington State Department of Transportation grant to study stormwater treatment methods.

The grant will help the city access sources of contaminants, and develop treatment and source control strategies for stormwater discharging into the Thea Foss Waterway.

For information call John O'Loughlin, Public works/Environmental Services, at (253) 502-2108 or email joloughl@cityoftacoma.org.

County tests toxic waste pickup for business

SEATTLE -- A new county pilot program will cover the cost of having hazardous waste picked up and transported to disposal facilities for small businesses in Redmond, Kenmore and Federal Way.

Small businesses now either self-haul or pay for pick-up and transfer of hazardous waste to disposal sites in Georgetown or Kent. The King County Local Hazardous and Waste Management Program's 'Get Rid of It" program will pay disposal costs, which vary by waste quantity and type.

Some businesses may qualify for extra disposal cost assistance through the county's Voucher Incentive Program. The program will run during September and October in Kenmore and Redmond, and during October and November in Federal Way. It may be expanded through the county.

Bellevue, TPL to buy open space

BELLEVUE --The city of Bellevue and the Trust for Public Land and will preserve the McTavish Highlands in Bellevue's Woodridge neighborhood as open space.

The city and TPL, a national nonprofit land-conservation agency, used a $1.45 million purchase option, a $750,000 state grant, and $200,000 in King County Conservation Futures funds to buy the 25 acres. The land, which was slated for development, includes riparian corridors in the Richards and Kelsey creek basins.

TPL has protected more than 47,000 acres in Washington. For information, visit www.tpl.org or call (206) 587-2447.

EPA recommends tougher soot standards

WASHINGTON (AP) -- New federal standards that limit the amount of soot in the air do not adequately protect the elderly and people with respiratory problems and should be tightened, according to a government report.

The new findings are in a draft paper by Environmental Protection Agency staff and are being circulated for review by outside scientists. The findings could become the basis for additional reduce the amount of soot emitted by diesel-burning trucks, cars, factories and power plants.

Business groups have argued that soot-control standards issued by the Clinton administration in 1997 are based on uncertain science and have cost industry tens of billions of dollars. Industry opponents challenged the 1997 rules to the Supreme Court, which eventually upheld them.

The paper says that since 1997, scientific studies "have confirmed and strengthened" the link between exposure to microscopic soot and premature deaths, cardiovascular problems and respiratory illnesses.