May 24, 2005

Environmental Watch: Farallon Consulting promotes geologist

ISSAQUAH — Farallon Consulting promoted Timothy S. Brown to associate geologist. He is a hydrogeologist, and manages remediation projects and develops hydrogeologic models. Brown's focus is on investigating petroleum hydrocarbon and hazardous waste.

Farallon specializes in engineering, site characterization and remediation, due diligence, and mitigation and litigation support. It has 34 professional staff in offices in Issaquah and Bellingham.

Hachey heads Golder's western region

REDMOND — Golder Associates named its Redmond office principal Joe Hachey as vice president of the company's western U.S. region. Hachey is an engineer with 18 years of experience in geotechnical and construction work. He'll help Golder develop operations in Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Oregon, California and Nevada. He'll also work with Golder's central and eastern regional leaders to support clients across the country.

Doug Dunster, a principal and senior environmental scientist, will be the Redmond office manager. Dunster has 25 years of experience with environmental regulations and state laws, including seven years at the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Associate and senior hydrogeologist Bob Anderson replaces Dunster as head of the company's environmental sciences group. Anderson's areas of expertise are aquifer characterization and flow system modeling.

Golder is a global group of consulting companies that focus on ground engineering and environmental services. More than 4,000 people work out of offices in Africa, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

King County to survey trail use today

SEATTLE — King County wants to know how often people are using one of its regional trail system and is seeking volunteers to do a survey today.

Volunteers are needed to count the number of users along the Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River trails between Seattle and King County's Marymoor Park near Redmond. Stations will be set up in Seattle, Bothell, Woodinville and Redmond. The Bicycle Alliance of Washington is helping to organize the survey, which will run from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bill Moritz, a professor emeritus at the University of Washington, says the data gathered will be used to help plan new trails. Construction is expected to begin this summer on the final link of the East Lake Sammamish Trail.

Nisqually basin plan getting an update

TACOMA — Pierce County Water Programs will hold a public meeting on June 1 to explain how the county is updating its 1991 Nisqually Basin Surface Water Management Plan.

The meeting will take place in Eatonville at Weyerhaeuser Elementary School, 6105 365th St. E., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Brown and Caldwell consulting firm is working with county staff on the first phase of the plan, to include unincorporated county areas stretching from Mount Rainier National Park to the mouth of the Nisqually River. This phase will be published by the end of this year, and the final Nisqually Basin Plan is set to be finished by the end of 2006.

The plan will guide spending of surface water fees collected from property owners for flood control, water quality protection and floodplain habitat.

For more information call Pierce County planner Roy Huberd at (253) 798-6793 or project engineer Randy Brake at (253) 798-4651.

NEBC golf and BBQ on June 23

SEATTLE — The Northwest Environmental Business Council Olympic chapter will hold a golf tournament and barbeque in Mukilteo on June 23.

This will be the organization's 12th annual tournament, and will take place at Harbour Pointe Golf Club, 11817 Harbour Pointe Boulevard. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. For more information, call Cara Bergeson at (503) 227-6361 or see www.ecwashington.org.

Learn why consumers choose green

SEATTLE — Laurie Demeritt, president of the Hartman Group, will give a free talk on "A Consumer Perspective on Sustainability" on June 7 in Seattle. The topic is what motivates people to buy certain kinds of products. It will be held at The Mountainners, 300 Third Ave. W. from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Bellevue-based Hartman Group helps clients interpret consumer lifestyles and understand how lifestyle affects choice of health and wellness products. Demeritt will go over research on consumer attitudes and behavior toward sustainable products.

For reservations, contact Kate Carone at kate@celilo.net. For more information about registration and costs, call (503) 226-7798.

Renton site may get delisted by state

BELLEVUE — Ecology is proposing to remove a Renton property from a statewide list of contaminated sites. The parcel is known as the former Dukes Transmission & Used Car site and is located at 251 Rainier Ave N.

Ecology officials say the site was a bulk fuel distribution center in the late 1940s, and a transmission and used car lot until 1998, and has now been cleaned.

Ecology invites public comments on the proposed delisting before June 2. Documents can be reviewed at Ecology's Northwest Regional Office, call (425) 649-7190 for an appointment. Direct technical questions and written comments to: Brian Sato, Site Manager, Washington Department of Ecology Toxics Cleanup Program, 3190 160th Ave. S.E. Bellevue, WA 98008. Or e-mail bsat461//www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0509065.pdf">pdf file.