Dec 22, 1998

ALT-TRANS now Transportation Choices

SEATTLE -- The association of citizen advocacy groups, business, public agencies and individuals known as ALT-TRANS has changed its name to Transportation Choices Coalition. The new name will become official on Jan. 1, 1999. The change reflects the group's objective, which is to promote other travel options than driving alone. David Allen, policy director for Transportation Choices Coalition, said a poll conducted by Evans/McDonough during the summer found the most support for those transportation solutions that move the most people for the least cost. Those polled also favored "expanding transportation choices" and "expanding bus service." The least favored options were to add lanes to existing roads or to build new ones.

ECONorthwest not part of USFS suit

SEATTLE -- In a Dec. 18 Journal story that described a lawsuit filed against the U.S. Forest Service's logging program, we named the environmental group ECONorthwest, of Eugene, Ore. as part of the suit. The group, however, is not a plaintiff. ECONorthwest Vice President Ernie Niemi said that an ECONorthwest economist, Ed Whitelaw, has prepared a declaration that support's the plaintiff's claims that the logging program causes both environmental and economic damage, but neither he nor the organization is a plaintiff.

Treesitter puts on lights for Christmas

STAFFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Julia Butterfly Hill, who has been living in an ancient redwood tree for nearly a year to prevent loggers from cutting it down, is putting up lights for Christmas. But just as Hill's tree, which she calls Luna, is hundreds of times bigger than an ordinary Christmas tree, so are her lights. They are flashing beacons with a range of over two miles each. The 24-year-old protester announced the tree-lighting Monday in a press release issued from her 8-by-8-foot platform wedged among thick branches 180 feet up the giant redwood. She said that with the lights, Luna "will stand bright and tall, reminding each of us that in this time of sharing, we must come together to find solutions." Hill and the Rainforest Action Network have been fighting Pacific Lumber Co. in an attempt to save the Headwaters Forest from the woodsman's ax.

Land swap said to benefit waterfowl, cattle

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) -- Approval of a land swap at the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge has created an unusual alliance of state and federal agencies, environmental groups and cattle ranchers. The swap of about 12,880 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands for about 7,879 acres of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands was approved by Congress and signed by President Clinton in late October. The legislation also changes management of about 11,020 acres of BLM lands. Under the land deal, a BLM parcel along Guano Creek at the south end of the refuge becomes part of the refuge and the historic Shirk Ranch, which once was teeming with waterfowl, is transferred from the refuge to the BLM. Federal managers have been criticized over the past decade because the ranch buildings were allowed to deteriorate while waterfowl virtually disappeared from its once-fertile wetlands. "I think this will help wildlife and help us," said John Lane, an Adel rancher who is president of the Beaty's Butte Grazing Association, which has grazing allotments in eastern Lake and western Harney counties. "It'll go back to what it used to be when it grazed," Lane said. "It used to be quite outstanding because of the green feed for birds and for antelope." Scott Florence, the BLM's Lakeview District manager, said the agency plans, at a minimum, "to stabilize the buildings and prevent them from further deterioration." Grazing will be allowed and is expected to improve conditions for migrating waterfowl, including ducks and geese. The ranch will be grazed in the fall by cattle being returned from the Beaty's Butte area. "From the stockman's vantage it's better," said Mike Nunn, one of the refuge managers, who says it will allow cattle grazing in a more compact area with better feed. Grazing will end on less productive lands that are now part of the refuge, allowing it to recover. Bill Marlatt, director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association in Bend, said his group worked for the exchange because it transfers lands along Guano Creek to the refuge. "We were able to block up contiguous lands to the refuge that do not have grazing on them. That's the kind of landscape we're looking for," said Marlatt. "I wish we could be working on more projects like this."

MTCA changes proposed by Ecology

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has proposed changes to the Model Toxics Control Act, the law that governs toxic cleanups in the state. The proposed changes stem from recommendations of an advisory committee, set up by the Legislature, plus the dictates of regulatory reform and new science. Their purpose is to make the law more flexible, predictable, understandable and consistent for those who are attempting to clean up contaminated sites. Changes would affect cleanup standards, site-specific risk assessments, remedy selection and petroleum cleanups. A new section would be added to the law to ensure protection for plants and animals that may be exposed to contaminated soil. The proposed changes also include provisions for more public participation. Ecology will accept comments on the proposed rule changes through January, 1999. The agency will host a workshop on them in Seattle on Jan. 5 and again on Jan. 6 in Spokane. A final rule is expected to be adopted next summer.

Warning: combined sewer overflow

SEATTLE -- From now until July 1999, signs will be posted near combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in King County warning passersby of possible raw sewage discharges. The work is part of a public notification program undertaken by the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health, the city of Seattle and King County. Besides the signs, they are using letters, leaflets and other means to warn the public of the health risks near CSOs. They urge people not to swim, fish, wade or otherwise use the waters around a CSO during or after a heavy rain. The problem is, CSOs function both as storm sewers and sanitary sewers. Under normal circumstances, they carry runoff and sewage directly to a treatment plant. But during heavy rains, the pipes fill to overflowing -- which sends their contents out the nearest CSO. So far, Seattle and King County have spent over $400 million to correct the problem. About 105 sites have been substantially corrected. Work is underway to fix the others, at a cost of another $580 million.

Restart of Hanford facility raises questions

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) -- If Hanford's Fast Flux Test Facility is restarted, the issue of where its nuclear wastes would be stored has yet to be resolved. Opponents and proponents of restarting the nuclear reactor both say the waste questions must be answered. The issue came up at a Dec. 4 meeting of the Hanford Advisory Board, a citizens panel that contains members on both sides of the issue. "We do need to address the issue of additional wastes. ... If a new waste stream comes from the FFTF, where will it go?" asked board member Norma Jean Germond of Oregon, representing the public at large. The issue would be tackled by a Department of Energy environmental impact study on reviving FFTF, if Energy Secretary Bill Richardson approves. He could also decide to scrap the reactor. Richardson is due to decide within a few days. The reactor is being considered for a variety of missions, including making tritium to boost the explosive power of nuclear weapons. It could also make medical isotopes to diagnose and treat cancer, and plutonium 238 to power outer space probes. Any new radioactive wastes would be minor compared with the wastes in 177 underground storage tanks at Hanford, plus 2,300 tons of spent nuclear fuel in the K Basins and other radioactive junk. But FFTF opponents argue that new radioactive wastes would sidetrack Hanford from its main mission of cleaning up wastes from decades of producing material for nuclear weapons. The Energy Department estimates that FFTF's basic operation annually would generate 1,000 gallons of low-level radioactive liquid wastes, 55 cubic yards of solid low-level radioactive wastes, four cubic yards of hazardous wastes, 19 million gallons of process waste water, a smidgen of airborne radioactive emissions and conventional sewage and wastes. Operating the FFTF would also produce an estimated 55 to 60 spent nuclear fuel assemblies yearly. Jon Savelle is the Journal's environment editor. He can be contacted at (206) 622-8272.

Mount Rainier National Park

William Briggle, superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park and a 50-year veteran of the National Park Service, will retire Jan. 2. He is stepping down while a long-term management plan is being developed for the park so the new superintendent will be more involved in the effort. He oversees an annual budget of about $10 million and a full-time staff of about 130.

Microsoft

Microsoft Corp. announced the promotion of Steven Sinofsky to vice president of Microsoft Office and Brian Valentine to vice president of Windows development. Sinofsky manages design and development of the Office suite and its applications. Valentine manages design and development of the Windows 2000 operating system and associated infrastructure products.

Plenum

Plenum Communications, Inc. announced that Larry H. Dale was approved by the shareholders as a new member of the board of directors. Plenum Communications Inc. is the parent company of Lenders Interactive Online Network (LION). LION provides wholesale mortgage rate, fee and program information to mortgage brokers nationwide.

Pure Audio

Sabrina Manhas has joined Seattle's Pure Audio as client services manager. Manhas formerly served as studio director at Emerald City Productions in Seattle. Pure Audio provides audio production and sound design for television, radio, film and new media.

Wizards of the Coast

Sean Vanderdasson has been promoted to director of e-commerce and direct sales for Seattle-based game manufacturer Wizards of the Coast. Vanderdasson formerly served as the company's online manager.

Pacific Medical Clinics

Jacqueline Farwell, M.D., has recently joined the medical staff at PacMed Clinics in Seattle's First Hill neighborhood.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Washington Mutual Bank and Seafirst Bank/Bank of America were recently honored with the Model Corporate Partner Award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This award recognizes the banks' support as full partners in the city of Seattle's Project Impact: Disaster-Resistant Community home earthquake retrofit program.

StreetConnect

StreetConnect, a Seattle-based investor relations and financial communications services firm, has promoted Jeffrey C. Howlett to executive vice president, hired Andrew J. Noble as senior consultant, Louis Friedkin as financial controller and Mark Wahlbrink as office manager. The company also moved into larger offices at 400 E. Pine, Suite 220, Seattle 98122.

Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe

Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe has admitted Leonard Feldman as a shareholder in its Seattle law office. Feldman specializes in commercial litigation.

GLY

GLY Construction recently hired four new employees to meet growing demand: Stephanie Hixson, Christina Lombard, Andy Roed and Mark Kane. Hixson is a project engineer providing support for the Quadrant East Campus project in Federal Way. Lombard is assisting the firm in its marketing efforts under the title of marketing coordinator. Roed, a project engineer, is providing estimating support for GLY's preconstruction services. Kane is a senior project manager currently overseeing preconstruction efforts for an Eastside project.

Safway

Scaffold supplier and designer Safway Steel Products has moved to a new and larger location. The company's new address is: 1050 S. 96th St., Seattle, WA 98108. The phone and fax numbers are: (206) 762-2751 and (206) 762-2956.