May 3, 2005

Environmental Watch: Carter to head Audubon Washington

Carter

Carter has 21 years of experience in public policy and environmental work, and was at the state departments of Fish and Wildlife, Ecology, and Parks and Recreation. She was on the city council in Olympia and was an environmental studies professor at Evergreen State College.

She has directed Audubon Washington's policy team for four years and will continue to do so, along with field director Heath Packard, who will contact elected officials and agency staff in Olympia and across the state.

Audubon's policy team is connected with 26 affiliated Audubon societies in Washington. Audubon Washington aims to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife, and their habitats.

Floyd|Snider moves to new space

SEATTLE — The environmental consulting firm Floyd|Snider moved from Pioneer Square to new offices at Two Union Square, 601 Union St., Suite 600 in Seattle.

The phone number, fax number and Web address are the same. Phone is (206) 292-2078, fax is (206) 682-7867. The Web address is http://www.floydsnider.com. Floyd|Snider provides engineering, strategic project management and scientific expertise.

Ecology gives B.C. firm Ecopro award

OLYMPIA — Vancouver, B.C.-based company Island Tug and Barge Ltd. recently received an award from the Department of Ecology for its maritime safety standards.

The award is called Ecopro, or Exceptional Compliance Program Award, which Ecology says goes to companies that go beyond basic compliance. Island Tug is the first tug and barge company to win this recognition since the program started six years ago.

Island Tug meets all 26 of Ecology's maritime safety standards for tank barges such as management practices, maintenance and inspection, emergency preparedness, vessel tracking and security issues.

Island Tug President Robert Shields says his company handles a large part of Western Canada's marine petroleum transportation requirements. Ecology officials say recent maritime casualties around the world have made it more important to keep improving international maritime regulations, training and procedures.

Stormwater merges with Vortechnics

PORTLAND — Portland-based company Stormwater Management has merged with a Maine company called Vortechnics.

Both are part of Middletown, Ohio-based Contech Construction Products, a company that offers services and products for site development such as corrugated metal, geotextiles, erosion control products and retaining wall systems.

Stormwater and Vortechnics were acquired by Contech. They both focus on treating stormwtater. The combined company is yet to be named, but will be headquartered in Scarborough, Maine. Sales offices and facilities for both will remain at their current locations. Together, they'll have two testing labs, 160 employees and revenues of nearly $60 million.

The new management for the combined company will be as follows: Vortechnics' David R. Miley is chief executive officer and Stormwater Management's David Pollock is chief operating officer. Eric Roach is chief financial officer, Jim Lenhart is chief technology officer, Lanz Fritz is vice president of operations, Fran Tighe is vice president of development and Tom Gorrivan is national sales manager.

Jay Manning to speak on water law

SEATTLE — Law Seminars International holds its 14th annual conference on Washington Water Law May 19-20 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel, 515 Madison St. in Seattle.

Jay Manning, the new director of the Washington State Department of Ecology, will give a talk on May 19 at 8:45 a.m. A keynote address by King County Executive Ron Sims will be on May 20 at 8:30 a.m.

The conference is targeted to water law practitioners and water resources managers. Co-chairs are Sarah Mack of the Mentor Law Group in Seattle and Matthew D. Wells of Preston Gates & Ellis in Seattle.

The conference will focus on how the legal, policy and environmental landscape for Washington water law is changing, with a new administration in Olympia, new programs that address competing interests on the Columbia River, and new information on global climate change and how it affects water resources. For more information, call Scott Paine at (206) 567-4490.

Use It Again, Seattle! May 14 and 22

SEATTLE — Seattle Public Utilities hosts two events this month for people to drop off or pick up reusable items for free.

The "Use It Again, Seattle Road Show" will take place May 14 and May 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sand Point's Magnuson Park, at Northeast 65th Street and Sand Point Way.

Appliances in good working condition will be accepted for reuse, except refrigerators and freezers. Toilets and other porcelain will be taken for recycling, as will metal frames, bicycles and old tools. Good, reusable clothing will be accepted and donated to charity. Free mulch will be offered while supplies last.

Items that won't be accepted: tires, mattresses or box springs, TVs and computer equipment.

For more information, call (206) 615-0701. To find out how to properly get rid of household hazardous waste, call (206) 296-4692. Also see http://www.seattle.gov/util/useitagain.

Eco-friendly yard care items on sale

TACOMA — Pierce County home improvement stores are offering discounted eco-friendly yard care items through May 15 as part of Northwest Natural Yard Days, a program co-sponsored by Tacoma Public Works Environmental Services and Tacoma Water.

Products such as mulching mowers, organic fertilizer, moss killer, slug control and soaker hoses will be offered at reduced prices at all Pierce County Lowe's and Home Depot stores, and Ace Hardware stores in Lakewood and Tacoma.