November 4, 2003

Environmental Watch: ENSR names new general manager

Hayden

Hayden joined ENSR 16 years ago and was previously western regional manager for administration.

ENSR is based in Massachusetts. Its Redmond office provides water, air, hazardous waste/remediation, permitting, risk assessment and environmental due diligence services to industrial and government clients.

Citizens for a Healthy Bay gets new director

TACOMA -- Citizens for a Healthy Bay, an advisory and advocacy group for Tacoma's Commencement Bay Superfund site, named Stan Cummings as its new executive director.

From 1980 to 2001 Cummings was president of the Ocean Institute, a Dana Point, Calif., educational agency operating in two states and six cities. Before that, Cummings, who studied teaching and science education at Wesleyan University and Stanford, was director of education at the Yosemite Institute.

To learn about Citizens for a Healthy Bay, visit www.healthybay.org or call (253) 383-2429.

City holding 'Center City' event Nov. 10

SEATTLE -- Former Vancouver, B.C., city council member Gordon Price will discuss transportation and land use 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Bertha Landes Reception Room at Seattle City Hall at 600 Fourth Ave. Nov. 10. The speech is part of "Center City: what we want to be" and is sponsored by the city of Seattle.

Price served six terms from 1986 to 2003. He also served on the boards of the Greater Vancouver Regional District and Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, and lectures often on transportation and land use.

Seattle Department of Transportation director Grace Crunican will talk about local transportation strategies and Department of Planning and Development director Diane Sugimura will talk about development strategies. For details contact John Rahaim at (206) 684-0434 or john.rahaim@seattle.gov.

Nov. 13 conference looks at water, land use

SEATTLE -- A conference in the Seattle Art Museum Nov. 13 will explore the connection between water-resource management and land-use planning in Washington state.

Public- and private-sector and non-governmental officials will discuss the Growth Management Act, Shoreline Management Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Endangered Species Act and public water system planning at the 2003 Washington Section American Water Resources Association Annual Conference.

The conference is designed for consultants, attorneys, business professionals, tribal representatives and others. For program and registration information visit http://earth.golder.com/waawra.

RCRA workshop Nov. 13-14.

SEATTLE -- Lion Technology is holding a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act workshop at the Hilton Seattle Airport Nov. 13-14.

The workshop is geared for those who know the RCRA basics and want to learn more about complex regulatory options. Topics will include recycling, waste-identification and management, land-disposal restrictions compliance and special-issue wastes.

Native plant, landscaping workshop Nov. 12

SEATTLE -- Healthy, low-maintenance landscaping will be the focus of a 6:30-9 p.m. workshop at Rainier Beach High School Nov. 12.

Seattle Public Utilities and King County representatives at "Seattle's Naturescaping Workshop" will also discuss how local birds and wildlife relate to native plants. Those who attend the 8815 Seward Park Ave. S. workshop can also dig up native plants Nov. 16 at a salvage site provided by the Issaquah School District.

To register contact Bob Spencer at (206) 684-4163 or bob.spencer@seattle.gov.

Comments due on Oregon water proposal

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting comments until Nov. 9 on proposed new Oregon water-quality standards.

The proposed standards include use designations for critical-life stages of some salmon, trout and other cold-water fish species; temperature criteria to protect salmonids in state waters aside from the Columbia River; criteria to protect spawning salmonid in designated spawning areas; and ways to implement Oregon's antidegradation policy.

Submit comments to Valerie Badon, ORC-158, U.S. EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101. For details visit www.epa.gov/region10/ and click on the calendar item on proposed Oregon water-quality standards.

Exhibit to showcase green art, design

SEATTLE -- A two-month exhibit starting Nov. 17 at on third floor of Bank of America tower at 701 Fifth Ave. will feature environmental artwork, architecture and product design.

"Sustainable Connections -- Art, Architecture and Product Design" will also showcase sustainable strategies from the King County King Street Center, new city of Seattle buildings and the Sixth International Design Resource Awards. Viewing will be available 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Jan. 15, 2004.

Study says green building pays off

WASH., D.C.-- Investments in green buildings pay off 10 times over, according to a new study by Capital E Group, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm.

The study was done for California state agencies and guided by the United States Green Building Council. It concluded that green buildings improve productivity and health and reduce energy, water, operations, maintenance and other costs.

The study pegged the financial benefits of green buildings at $50 to $70 per square foot. For details visit www.cap-e.com/publications/default.cfm.

OSU group recycling stadium waste

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Thirty-seven thousand fans packed into Reser Stadium recently to see Oregon State University hammered by Washington. But they didn't pack out.

Campus Recycling, went to work. Cans, paper cups, plastic bottles, cardboard and leftovers from tailgate parties were everywhere. Campus Recycling took what could be recycled, and set it aside for a disposal company. Later, a church group got the rest.

The student group helps recycle about 40 percent of items left by fans at football home games. It has two paid workers and many volunteers, who usually fill more than 100 large bags of recyclable material.

OSU's athletic department pays Campus Recycling $600 per game.