Sep 08, 1998

Sewage spills into Lewis River

WOODLAND, Wash. (AP) -- An estimated 175,000 gallons of partially treated sewage flowed into the Lewis River late Tuesday or early Wednesday last week after an unknown toxic substance disabled part of Woodland's sewage plant. The substance -- dumped by someone into the sewer system -- killed the bacteria used to treat raw sewage, Woodland public works director Rob VanderZanden said. After the discovery, officials added chlorine and increased aeration to treat sewage until the bacteria rebounded by early Thursday morning. State Department of Ecology officials drew water samples to try to identify the type and source of contamination. By the end of the week the contamination had washed downstream and the plant was back in operation.

Milfoil has invaded Idaho

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) -- European milfoil, an aquatic weed recently thought not to exist in Idaho, has been discovered in two lakes and one river in the state's Panhandle. Acting on tips from lake residents, Kootenai County weed superintendent Sandy Daniel found milfoil in Hayden and Spirit lakes late two weeks ago. Those discoveries came less than a month after researchers found about 20 acres of the thickly matted weed in the Pend Oreille River above Albeni Falls Dam. European milfoil is nothing new to shallow areas of the section of the river that runs through northeastern Washington, downstream from the dam. European milfoil is crowding native plants from waters in 43 states. Three months ago, Idaho officials said they didn't think the state had any infestations. Daniel now is looking for the weed in other Kootenai County waters. A search of Twin and Hauser Lakes on Monday turned up nothing but native milfoil, a plant that doesn't spread, hamper recreation or harm wildlife the way its imported cousin does. Bonner County has hired a private contractor to develop a plan to treat the Pend Oreille River infestation in Idaho with herbicides.

A 'most unusual' conference set for Yakima

YAKIMA -- The second Conference on Agriculture and Water Quality to be held in the Northwest will occur Oct. 20 and 21 in Yakima. The meeting will bring together agricultural producers, agricultural chemical and fertilizer companies, environmental groups, natural resource managers, scientists, regulators and private citizens to discuss environmental and economic issues. Keynote speaker for the conference is Kathleen McGinty, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. More than two dozen sessions and panels are scheduled for the conference, with more than 50 speakers and panelists. The conference will be held at the Yakima Convention Center. The cost is $100 for general attendance, or $150 for exhibitors. For more information, call (509) 838-6653 or e-mail farwest@ior.com.

Brownfields are on the menu

SEATTLE -- The Washington Research Council will present a half-day brownfields seminar on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Leeward Room of the downtown Seattle Hilton. The event costs $35 per person and includes a continental breakfast. Topics to be covered include types of brownfields, their impacts on communities, redevelopment programs, Washington state efforts, and possible improvements to public policy on brownfields. For registration information, contact the council at (206) 467-7088 or 1-800-294-7088. The Web site is http://www.researchcouncil.org.

DNR has money for salmon projects

OLYMPIA -- It's time to apply for grants from the Washington Department of Natural Resources 1998 Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account. The DNR has traditionally provided such grants primarily for water shorelines access projects. But this year, with new emphasis on protecting salmon habitat, the department is making a priority of projects that protect and improve habitat in estuarine and lower watershed environments. The grants will be awarded to projects that:

• Rehabilitate critical marine, estuarine and riverine aquatic habitat in areas designated or proposed under the federal Endangered Species Act for salmon;
• Encourage the re-establishment of naturally self-sustaining riparian areas that are "fully integrated into the larger ecological landscape;"
• Protect existing high-value aquatic habitats, allowing natural processes to occur;
• Develop pedestrian shoreline access projects such as trails and fishing piers;
• Buy waterfront properties to create non-motorized access and to protect shorelines; or
• Create interpretive sites and displays that focus on aquatic resources and human use of those resources.

The DNR will hold two grant application workshops to review the schedule, eligibility, application materials and the selection process. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the workshop will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Grant County Public Works Office, 124 Enterprise St. S.E., Ephrata. The other workshop will be held in Tacoma on Sept. 16, in the News Tribune Conference Center, 1950 S. State St. For more information, call the DNR at (360) 902-1000.

The 'greening of Seattle' happens Sept. 28

Anyone interested in neighborhood planning, open space, restoring forests and creeks and creating new parks and gardens should attend the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation "Greening of Seattle" workshop on Sept. 28. The evening event will bring together people who have worked in neighborhood planning and open space issues, and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. During the program, a slide show will highlight new open space properties in Seattle, and citizens will describe projects in creek restoration, reforestation, making new parks and neighborhood planning. The event begins with displays and networking from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the program from 7:30 to 9 in the South Lake Union Armory. The address is 860 Terry Ave. N. For further information, call Catherine Anstett, (206) 684-7046, or Ed Mellinger, 684-0777.

Landau Associates moves down the hill

EDMONDS -- Landau Associates, an environmental consulting firm in Edmonds, has moved to new digs just down the hill from the old place. The address is Sound View Plaza, 130 Second Ave. S., Edmonds, WA 98020. The telephone is (425) 778-0907, fax (425) 778-6409. The move is necessitated in part by expansion of the firm.

Two set their hooks at Anchor Environmental

SEATTLE -- Tali Schneeweiss and Suzanne Kaminski have joined Anchor Environmental LLC, an environmental and geotechnical consulting firm in Seattle. Schneeweiss is an office administrator and project assistant; Kaminski is a designer specializing in dredging, coastal and waterfront work. Jon Savelle is the Journal's environment editor. He can be contacted at (206) 622-8272 or jon@djc.com.

Foster Pepper & Shefelman

Mary-Alice Pomputius has joined Foster Pepper & Shefelman as of counsel practicing intellectual property and trademark law in the firm's Seattle office. Pomputius formerly served as special counsel at Cooley Godward in Palo Alto.

Perkins Coie

Richard R. Albrecht, former executive vice president of the commercial airplane group for The Boeing Co., has rejoined the Seattle law firm Perkins Coie as Counsel. Albrecht was a partner from 1968 to 1974, and joined Boeing in 1976.

Hammerquist & Halverson

Hammerquist & Halverson, a Seattle-based advertising agency, has promoted Ian Cohen to associate creative director. Cohen most recently served as copywriter.

Pierce College

Janet E. Frickelton has been named human resources director at Pierce College. Frickelton formerly served as acting chief for the Washington State University division and general counsel for The Evergreen State College, Bates Technical College, Green River Community College, and Centralia College.

The Rockey Co.

Steve Boyer has joined The Rockey Co., a Seattle-based public relations firm, as vice president. Boyer formerly served as director of corporate communications for Services Group of America.

Seattle Symphony

Seattle Symphony has appointed Sandi Macdonald to director of marketing and communications. Macdonald will be responsible for planning, implementation and evaluation of earned ticket revenue goals, merchandising programs and will manage the key messages of the institution. Macdonald formerly served as director of marketing for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.