October 28, 2003

Environmental Watch: State gets $3M for brownfields cleanup

OLYMPIA -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) $3 million to expand cleanup of brownfield properties.

The grant will let the Washington Partnership -- a partnership of CTED, Ecology, King County, Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane -- start a revolving loan fund for cleanup of former petroleum-contaminated sites and real estate contaminated by methamphetamine production.

One-third of the funding will be used on hazardous waste sites such as former landfills, rail yards and junkyards, according to CTED.

NEBC legislative preview luncheon Nov. 5

SEATTLE -- The Northwest Environmental Business Council's annual legislative preview luncheon Nov. 5 will focus on the impact legislative and government affairs are having on environmental businesses.

The 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. luncheon, at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside on Lake Union at 1200 Westlake Ave. N., will cover topics that will guide NEBC's Olympic Chapter Committee next year. The speaker will be Jerry Smedes of Smedes & Associates.

The cost is $30 for NEBC members and guests and $45 for nonmembers. For details call (888) 609-6322 or visit http://www.nebc.org.

Enter the Built Green design contest

SEATTLE -- A design competition next year will let architects, builders, remodelers, developers, project teams and homeowners tout green design -- and win some cash in the process.

Entries are being accepted for the Built Green Seattle Design Competition. Winners will get technical, marketing and permitting support and $1,000 to $10,000 in prize money. Applications are due by February 2004, and projects must be built and certified Built Green by November 2004.

For details call Resource Venture, a program of Seattle Public Utilities and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, at (206) 389-7281 or visit www.ci.seattle.wa.us/dclu/sustainability/builtgreen.asp#apply.

Oregon calls for View-Master plant study

PORTLAND (AP) -- A new state report recommends a larger health study of workers at the former View-Master plant in Beaverton who were exposed to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene, or TCE, which has been linked to cancer.

In 1998, the solvent was discovered in the View-Master well that supplied drinking water to the plant. The TCE concentration was measured at levels of up to 1,670 parts per billion, well in excess of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum safe levels of 5 parts per billion.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality estimates the TCE was present in the supply well for more than 20 years. The report recommends a detailed study put the health risk of TCE exposure into perspective for View-Master employees; show the health impact on the local community; and improve medical knowledge about the effects of TCE exposure.

Wood waste conference Nov. 5-7

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Representatives of Weyerhaeuser and other forest-industry companies will discuss energy-related solutions and technologies for using wood waste at the Residue-To-Revenue Residual Wood Conference in at the Delta Vancouver Airport Nov. 5-7.

Representatives of companies such as Lignol Innovations Corp., Timberjack Energy Technology, Earth Tech Canada Inc., BW McCloy & Associates, KC Environmental Group Ltd. and Creative Energy Systems Corp. will discuss handling and separating wood residue, carbon credits, biofuels, emerging technologies and other topics.

For registration, schedule and location information, call the Logging and Sawmilling Journal at (604) 990-9970, e-mail tenaj@telus.net, or visit www.forestnet.com.

Wind energy study looks at climate change

SEATTLE -- The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and 3TIER Environmental Forecast Group will study the impact of climate change on wind patterns in the Pacific Northwest.

The study will use data from current wind projects to determine how climate change might affect energy production at current and future wind projects. Research by PNNL, which part of the U.S. Department of Energy, will be led by Ruby Leung.

Research by 3TIER, which specializes in atmospheric and hydrological forecasting and assessment, will be led by Senior Research Scientist Kristin Larson.

Celebrate recycling at Safeco Nov. 13

SEATTLE -- Business professionals. property and facility managers, building owners, and others are invited to discuss the benefits of recycling at the Washington Recycles Day exhibition and conference at Safeco Field November 13.

Workplace recycling will highlight tool-box sessions, exhibitions and a networking lunch between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Topics will include recycling computers and electronic devices, containers and signage, employee participation and bottom-line benefits. For information visit the Washington State Recycling Association at www.wsra.net.

Computer recycling benefits nonprofit

SEATTLE -- Half of the revenue generated by recycling computer equipment collected at University Congregational Church at 4516 16th Ave. N.E. Nov. 7-8 will go to Child Care Resources, a nonprofit agency.

Computer equipment contains lead, mercury, cadmium and other materials. Equipment collected from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the church's Parking Lot C in the University District will go to e-Cycle, a local recycling business that sells reusable computer parts and sends non-reusable parts to licensed processors. For information on c-Cycle visit www.ecycletech.com.

Also, a new Tacoma recycling program is giving unwanted cell phones to domestic violence victims. The "Old Phones, New Chances" program pairs the city's Solid Waste Management and Human Rights and Human Services departments are with Tacoma Goodwill Industries.

For collection locations, call (253) 591-5151 or visit www.cityoftacoma.org/recycle.

Green business drives Nov. 6-9 conference

AUSTIN, Texas -- More than 1,000 MBAs, business leaders and alumni are expected to descend on the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business Nov. 6-9 to discuss business ethics, corporate social responsibility and environmentally friendly business practices.

The Net Impact 2003 Conference "From Corporation to Community -- Building a Network for Change" will offer panel discussions, professional workshops and a career expo about socially and environmentally sensitive business.

The keynote speaker will be Reginald Van Lee, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton and leader of the Harlem Small Business Initiative. Representatives of Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Procter & Gamble, Reliant Energy and other corporations will also speak. For details visit www.srb.org/index.php?id=435.