March 30, 2004

Environmental Watch: Garff and Coleman hired by Watershed

Garff

Garff is a landscape architect and specializes in site planning, native plants and restoration design. He worked at Darwin Webb Landscape Architects and JGM Landscape Architects.

Coleman is an assistant biologist and graphic artist.

The Watershed Co. has offices in Kirkland and Wenatchee. Some of its projects include stream restoration on Peters Creek for the city of Redmond and wetland mitigation for the Pierce County landfill and expansion of Paine Field in Snohomish County.

New hires for Mentor Law Group

SEATTLE -- Sarah Mack and Josh Brower joined James Tupper as lawyers for Seattle-based firm Mentor Law Group. The firm works in land use, natural resources and environmental law.

Mack has 20 years' experience in project permitting and natural resource issues. She represents developers of resorts, energy projects and municipal water supply facilities. Mack also advises on legislation relating to land use, water rights and water supply planning.

Brower's background is in renewable energy, including wind farm siting and permitting. Brower practices land use, development and real estate.

Applications due for Governor's Award

OLYMPIA -- Applications for the Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices will be taken beginning April 1. The award is open to any Washington facility that can show success in preventing pollution and that uses sustainable practices.

To apply, contact Mariann Cook Andrews, coordinator, Department of Ecology, Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, or call (360) 407-6740, e-mail maco461@ecy.wa.gov, or visit www.ecy.wa.gov/sustainability/GovAward/gov_awards.htm. The application period closes June 4.

Livable communities fair April 3

PARKLAND -- Pierce County will host its second livable communities fair in Parkland on April 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pacific Lutheran University. The public is invited to learn how to help make the community a safer and healthier place to live.

Speakers will cover energy conservation, car-pooling, recycled building materials, low-impact development, water quality, agriculture, and parks and recreation.

Conference on building, selling green

ISSAQUAH -- A Built Green conference will be held April 6 at the Pickering Barn in Issaquah. The full-day event will focus on building and selling green communities and includes a look at the Puget Sound Energy Built Green Idea Home at Issaquah Highlands.

Builder and developer Bob Brownell of Bielinski Homes will speak on low-impact development in Wisconsin. There will be panel discussions on how to sell Built Green to prospective customers and on the merits of environmental home products for custom builders and remodelers.

Builders, developers, architects, Realtors, mortgage brokers, municipalities and planners are all invited to attend.

For information, contact (425) 451-7920 x 230, rrogers@mbaks.com, or visit www.builtgreen.net.

NEBC on environmental service clients

SEATTLE -- The Olympic chapter of Northwest Environmental Business Council presents "Environmental Services: A Client's Perspective" on April 7. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at McCormick & Schmick's Harborside on Lake Union at 1200 Westlake Avenue.

The event offers opportunities to hear what clients look for in environmental expertise, how they handle contracts and when they anticipate needing services in the future.

Cost is $30 for members, $45 for non-members. For information contact (888) 609-NEBC or visit www.nebc.org.

Garry Struthers wins exporter award

BELLEVUE -- The U.S. Small Business Administration named Garry Struthers Exporter of the Year for Washington state. Struthers and Rocky Wens, the Washington State Small Business Person of the Year and owner of ESP, are among the small business owners to be acknowledged.

Struthers is also one of 11 nominees for the U.S. Department of State 2004 Contractor of the Year award. Garry Struthers Associates of Bellevue provides engineering, environmental and construction services.

In 1995, Struthers began to target international clients and today 50 percent of his firm's engineering and construction/design work takes place abroad.

GSA has designed water, sanitation and sewage systems in parts of Mexico, the Caribbean and South Africa.

"When you go to these places and see the conditions that these people live under, you can't help but feel it," he said. "There is a lot to do there."

Struthers estimates that in his career he has worked on more than $300 million in construction projects worldwide. He now spends time mentoring and brainstorming with engineers. "That's the kind of work I live for," he said, "Not the textbook stuff."

Struthers will receive the award April 8 at the Bell Harbor Conference Center on Pier 66 in Seattle.

Port Blakely sells 23,000 acres

SEATTLE -- Seattle based Port Blakely Companies agreed to sell four tree farm properties in Washington and Oregon.

The properties total nearly 23,000 acres of timberland with 320 million board feet of timber. The properties were sold in a sealed bid auction conducted by Realty Marketing/Northwest. The purchase price will not be disclosed.

GMO Resources of Boston purchased the 6,300-acre Startup Tree Farm near Sultan and Gold Bar. The 2,355-acre Kitsap Tree Farm near Bremerton was purchased by Kitsap County and a private party.

The tree farms in Oregon are in Lane, Douglas and Coos counties.

DR Johnson Lumber Co. of Riddle, Ore., purchased the 7,742-acre Reedsport Tree Farm and Roseburg Forest Products bought the 6,292-acre Coquille Tree Farm.

Port Blakely will use the proceeds to buy 40,000 acres of timberland in eastern Lewis County.

Oregon town's water still tainted

KEIZER, Ore. (AP) -- State environmental officials are focusing their search for the source of this town's groundwater contamination to dry cleaners, gas stations and mechanic shops.

The chemicals, which were detected in summer 2002, continue to appear in testing of both city and private water wells.

At least four of the city's 16 water wells have shown trace amounts of tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, and trichloroethylene, or TCE.

The city has hired a private water consultant, Jeff Barry of Groundwater Solutions Inc. in Milwaukie, to help advise city officials working with state investigators.