November 9, 2004

Environmental Watch: Oil spill task force members picked

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke and U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jeffrey Garrett recently named 14 people to a task force to find new ways to respond to oil spills.

Locke and Garrett called for an Oil Spill Early Action task force to look at ways to better prepare for and respond to oil spills, especially during bad weather.

The task force will recommend ways to improve response, technology and notification procedures. Task force members come from government groups, tribes, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Ecology and associations. State and federal agencies will also be involved, with public comment periods at each meeting.

The Department of Ecology and the Coast Guard share responsibility for oil spill response in Washington's coastal waters.

A report set to be complete in January will be sent to oversight groups to test the response plan.

King County in WasteWise Hall of Fame

SEATTLE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency picked King County as the first government agency in its national WasteWise Hall of Fame.

Partners that helped King County meet environmental goals are Wright Runstad, Sea-Dru-Nar, Total Reclaim and the RE Store. Last year King County bought $5.1 million worth of recycled paper and environmentally preferable products and saved $3 million on reuse. Buying recycled materials, preventing waste and recycling are some of the practices that earned King County its place in the hall of fame.

The first inductees were Kodak, Virco Manufacturing and New Jersey-based utility company PSEG. General Motors and King County joined in October. For more information, see http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/about/waste-wise or http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/about/winners.htm.

Creosote in Middle Waterway cleaned

TACOMA — More than 3,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments were cleaned recently at the head of the Middle Waterway of Tacoma's Commencement Bay, thanks to public and private partners. Cleaning started in July as an alternative to capping sediments.

Funds came from three sources: $1 million from the state Department of Ecology, $500,000 from the city of Tacoma and $250,000 from the Department of Natural Resources.

About 90 percent of contamination was creosote, still in a thick liquid state after 75 years. There were also other oils from the early 1900s industrial era. The eastern shoreline and much of the west side of the Middle Waterway are being restored to mudflat habitat. A local conservation group recognized state employees with an award.

ECOSS to host Thanksgiving fundraiser

SEATTLE — The Environmental Coalition of South Seattle will host a Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 18 at St. Bernadette Parish Hall, 1028 S.W. 128th Street at 5:30 p.m.

Silent and live auctions will be held to raise funds. Auction items include desserts, a river raft trip and $3,500 in concrete fencing. Cost is $60 per person. RSVP by Nov. 12 by calling (206) 767-0435 or e-mail lora@ecoss.org.

Burke-Gilman trail meeting Nov. 16

SEATTLE — A citizen advisory group of 13 holds its first meeting Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in Lake Forest Park City Hall. The group will advise King County on redevelopment of the oldest section of the Burke-Gilman Trail, which crosses the city of Lake Forest Park.

The group will make recommendations on design, safety, maintenance and environmental concerns. Group members are cyclists, parks and recreation officials, homeowners with properties along the trail and businesses. For more information, contact Logan Harris at (206) 263-6550.

Comments due on Simpson mill permit

OLYMPIA — The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency seeks public comment on renewal of an air operating permit for Simpson Timber Co.'s lumber mill in Shelton. Pollutants at the mill could be particulate matter from dust and sulfur dioxide.

After a 30-day comment period, the agency will see if there is enough interest to hold a public hearing. Copies of the permit draft are available for review on the Web at www.orcaa.org, at ORCAA's office in Olympia or at the William G. Reed Public Library in Shelton. Submit written comments by Dec. 10 to ORCAA, 2940-B Limited Lane N.W., Olympia WA 98502.

ORCAA enforces air quality regulations in Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Pacific counties. For more information, call ORCAA at (360) 586-1044.

Benaroya Companies wins Energy Star

SEATTLE — The Environmental Protection Agency has presented an Energy Star Award to the commercial real estate company The Benaroya Companies at Benaroya's offices in Seattle.

Benaroya develops office, high-tech and warehouse properties. To save energy, Benaroya retrofitted lighting, installed motion sensors in rooms and started new maintenance practices.

Energy Star is a voluntary government-backed program that recognizes buildings that use 40 percent less energy than the average building. More than 1,700 buildings around the country have earned the designation.

Kirkland to hold 'Stewardship U'

SEATTLE — A free public workshop on how to start local environmental projects and organize communities will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Kirkland. It takes place at Kirkland Senior Center, 352 Kirkland Ave.

The "Stewardship U" workshop covers how to find funding and organize others for neighborhood restoration, watershed protection or water quality education projects. The goal is to help people learn how to better protect local streams, wetlands and wildlife areas. Part of the workshop is a trip to a stream restoration in Kirkland.

Funding for new projects could be available at an "Instant Grant-ification Booth" at the event, which is organized by King County and Water Tenders.

Pre-register by calling (206) 296-8312. For more information, call Elizabeth Loudon at (206) 263-6014 or e-mail elizabeth.loudon@metrokc.gov, or visit http://dnr.metrokc.gov/grants.