February 10, 2004

Environmental Watch: New sales manager for Vortechnics

BOTHELL -- Vortechnics Inc., a Scarborough, Maine-based stormwater treatment company, named Michael Scott Pacific Northwest regional sales manager. Scott has more than 25 years of experience in sales, management, business development and engineering. His emphasis is on filtration, fluid purification and process equipment for municipal and industrial markets. Scott will work in the Bothell office covering Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

Stormwater fine for Narrows bridge

OLYMPIA -- Inadequate stormwater treatment at the construction site of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge has resulted in a $10,000 penalty.

The state Department of Ecology fined the state Department of Transportation and design-builder Tacoma Narrows Constructors for lack of attention to proper stormwater management.

Ecology said it found stormwater pollution problems during four months of site inspections, stating that WSDOT and its contractor have jointly failed to contain and control stormwater at the site.

Ecology fined DOT/Tacoma Narrows Constructors for failing to report at least one muddy discharge, for neglecting standards to contain and control runoff, and for allowing muddy water to flow into Puget Sound.

80% of dairies meet new water law

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Department of Agriculture reports that 80 percent of the state's 599 licensed dairy farms met the Dec. 31, 2003, deadline imposed by the Dairy Nutrient Management Act. The law is designed to protect surface and groundwater.

The measure aims to prevent discharge of contaminated water or manure into streams, drainage ditches, surface water and groundwater. It will also specify when and in what amounts manure or water from manure lagoons can be applied to crops and pastures.

In order to conform to the law, farmers must have strategies for containment, collection, storage, transfer, treatment and use of dairy waste.

GLOBE 2004 starts March 31 in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The GLOBE 2004 convention, which takes place from March 31 to April 2 in Vancouver, will be the eighth GLOBE trade fair and conference. The program is targeted towards environmental business leaders and corporate environmental managers.

Among the topics to be discussed are corporate sustainability, energy and climate change, and building sustainable cities.

DNR grants available for open space

OLYMPIA -- Private landowners in Washington have until April to apply for grants to the state Department of Natural Resources' Riparian Open Space Program.

The state established the Open Space program to buy habitat in forested river channel islands as well as areas where river courses have changed. The Legislature has appropriated $1 million for the program, which is also to cover administration and survey costs.

Land must be "managed only in a manner necessary for ecological protection or fisheries enhancement," according to DNR.

For details, visit http://www.dnr.wa.gov/riparian or call contact Omroa Bhagwandin at (360) 902-1059 or riparian<@>wadnr.gov.

Calif. needs feds' OK on new washer rule

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California regulators approved efficiency rules for washing machines designed to save billions of gallons of water a year, but the changes will need the federal government's blessing to go beyond federal appliance efficiency statutes.

If it gets the waiver, California will become the first state to have water-efficiency rules for washing machines, which consume about 20 percent of households' annual water use.

A freeze on state regulations declared by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger held back the rules, which were supposed to be adopted by Dec. 31 under legislation signed by the governor's predecessor, Gray Davis.

California has 35 million residents and a perpetual water shortage. The rules on new washing machines would save an estimated 80 billion gallons annually by 2019.

Methow backcountry rules prompt suit

SPOKANE (AP) -- The U.S. Forest Service failed to take environmental impacts into account when it approved expanded backcountry snowmobiling and helicopter skiing in the Methow Valley, conservation groups allege.

Methow Forest Watch, Kettle Range Conservation Group, North Cascades Conservation Council, Lands Council and Wild Wilderness have sued the agency in U.S. District Court in Portland for approving the special-use permits.

The plaintiffs contend that the Forest Service has not done sufficient planning in order to appropriately address the increased impacts on winter wildlife, mountain wetlands, alpine meadows and other forest resources in roadless areas. They also allege a lack of monitoring and record-keeping of the area's recreational activities.

The permits, which have expanded the regions where heli-skiing and snowmobiles are permissable in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests, have nearly doubled the number of helicopter trips allowed, and have nearly tripled the number of clients that snowmobilers can take into the backcountry.

Group says B.C. waived fish farm fines

VICTORIA, British Columbia (AP) -- Documents show British Columbia's government refunded hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to fish farmers and forgave other fines shortly after the Liberal party took office in May 2001.

The Sierra Legal Defense Fund said it obtained documents showing the fish farming industry had been let off the hook for as much as $2.3 million (US$1.74 million) in fines.

Premier Gordon Campbell said fish farmers deserved a break because their license and tenure renewals and applications got snarled in a lengthy government-generated backlog. He and George Abbott, sustainable resource management minister, blamed the mess on the New Democratic party government that preceded the Liberals in Victoria.

Salmon farmers were fined for illegally expanding operations on government lands. They argued that they were trying to comply but found that their paperwork was being tied up.

Campbell said the decision was made when Land and Water British Columbia decided to clear up a pile of about 3,000 various applications and documents pertaining to the aquaculture industry.