Apr 06, 1999

Ruckleshaus to speak on salmon ...

SEATTLE -- William Ruckleshaus, who twice served as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and who was the U.S. envoy in implementing the Pacific Salmon Treaty, will address the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce during its April 12 luncheon. Ruckleshaus will discuss the recent listing of Puget Sound chinook salmon under the Endangered Species Act, and how this will affect business practices and living conditions in the region. He will also talk about the Tri-County plan for salmon recovery. The luncheon will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Bellevue, 300 112th Ave. S.E. Things get underway at 11:45 a.m., closing at 1:15. The cost is $18 for members and $25 for nonmembers. For reservations, contact the chamber at (425) 454-2464.

... so will Jean-Michel Cousteau

SEATTLE -- "An Evening With Cousteau -- Our Coasts, Our Future" -- featuring Jean-Michel Cousteau and a panel of experts, will be presented on April 8th at the University of Washington's Kane Hall in Seattle and on April 9th at the High School Auditorium in Port Angeles. Cousteau will be joined by specialists in coastal ecology and resource management speaking on "Aquaculture: Food or Folly?" The panels will focus on the growing threats of unsustainable development on our oceans and shorelines and highlight the effects of shrimp and salmon aquaculture on marine life, coastal communities and consumer health. Panelists scheduled to join Cousteau at the news conference include:

• Dr. Roz Naylor of Stanford University, an expert in aquaculture economics;
• Dr. Lee Alverson, a specialist in the biological issues involved in aquaculture and manager of Natural Resource Consultants;
• Laurie MacBride, executive director of Georgia Strait Alliance, a British Columbia environmental coalition;
• Arnie Narcisse, Interior Co-Chair of the British Columbia Aboriginal Fisheries Commission;
• Isabel de la Torre, executive director of the Industrial Shrimp Action Network;
• Peter Knutson, Puget Sound Gillnetters' Association, commercial fisherman, and Ph.d in marine anthropology;
• Alexandra Morton, British Columbia whale researcher who has studied salmon farming around the world and the effects of salmon net pens on resident orca whale and other marine mammal populations.

Recycled materials lose value, rates go up

EVERETT -- Many residents of Snohomish County will pay higher rates for garbage and recycling collection because of a soft market for recycled materials. Officials of Waste Management Northwest say the poor Asian economy has reduced demand for goods and created a surplus of recyclables. Prices for them have fallen. As a result, some County residents will receive a smaller credit for recycling than they have in the past, and monthly bills will increase by $2.16 for residential customers. The change will affect some 66,148 residential customers of Waste Management in Snohomish County, and some in unincorporated parts of King County.

Portland's recycling effort falters

PORTLAND (AP) -- In a new report, Metro has concluded that the Portland region may fail to achieve its goal of recycling 52 percent of its total waste by the year 2000, a goal that looked attainable when it was set in 1996 and was even backed by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The recycling rate was 42 percent in 1997, the last year for which totals are complete. While Portland faces no penalties for missing its goals, recycling advocates say there will be other consequences for falling short: greater consumption of energy and resources, and more rapidly filling landfills. The shortfall is blamed on several factors, including a decline in Metro's garbage rates, which can reduce the incentive to recycle; consolidation of the garbage industry into a handful of large, national disposal companies; and low prices for recycled materials. There is almost no demand for some recyclables, such as roofing material and organics, and there is only marginal demand for plastics and aluminum. Still, total recycling has increased in the region, from 25 percent in 1987 to 42 percent 10 years later, with most gains being made in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The amount of garbage, however, grew even quicker. Recycled waste rose to 1,200 pounds per person in 1997, a gain of 5.1 percent from 1995. But total waste reached 3,000 pounds per person, an increase of 6.3 percent. Metro figures show that although household recycling was well ahead of the pace needed to meet the 2000 goal, every other category trailed: commercial sector, only 56 percent of its target; construction and demolition, 34 per cent; with virtually nothing from organic food waste. Poorest performers were paper-generating businesses: offices, restaurants, hotels and institutions.

Report: Seattle at risk from global warming

SEATTLE -- In a report to be released this week, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives says that Seattle is one of the cities most at risk from global warming. The report, Cities at Risk: Assessing the Vulnerability of United States Cities to Climate Change, finds that Seattle's projected average-temperature increase of 5 degrees will be enough to cause earlier snowmelt in the mountains, extreme floods and an increase in sea levels. Mitigation measures will cost more than $2 billion. Release of the report is set for April 8. The announcement will be made by Seattle City Councilmember Margaret Pageler, by Seattle City Light energy planning analysts Janice Bowman and Marya Castellano, and by Abby Young of ICLEI.

Anchor Environmental adds staff

SEATTLE -- Anchor Environmental, L.L.C. has hired Ami Karnosh as a project assistant and office administrator in its Seattle headquarters. Anchor is an environmental, coastal and geotechnical engineering consulting firm, with an emphasis on aquatic remediation and waterfront redevelopment. The firm currently is working on projects around the U.S. and Canada. More information about the company is available at http://www.anchorenv.com.

Meeting on Puget Sound monitoring

OLYMPIA -- On May 12 the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program will hold a meeting in Seattle to discuss ways to better coordinate research on the sound, and to share information. The free event will run all day at the University of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture. It is intended for scientists, students, citizens and decision-makers from government, tribes and non-profits. Topics to be covered during the meeting are the physical environment, nutrients and pathogens, toxic contaminants, biological resources and human health. Those interested in attending the meeting should contact Bernie Lester at the Puget Sound Action Team, (360) 407-7311. Jon Savelle is the Journal's environment editor. He can be contacted at (206) 622-8272.

JayRay Ads & PR

Stephanie Helget has joined the Tacoma offices of JayRay Ads & PR as an account executive. Helget formerly served as a marketing coordinator for Franciscan Health Systems.

Hood River Distillers

Jason Webb was recently added as sales representative in the Seattle metropolitan area for Hood River Distillers. Webb formerly served as a wine representative for Odom Corp.

Acordia Northwest

J. Stewart Sawyer III was recently named marketing director for Seattle's Acordia Northwest. Sawyer formerly served as corporate vice president and actuary.

Dynacraft

Dynacraft, a division of Paccar, recently celebrated it's 30th anniversary in the heavy truck parts business. Dynacraft product lines include belts, hoses, fasteners, hose assemblies, battery cable assemblies, fittings, adapters and truck polish products. Dynacraft is based in Algona.

Mackie Designs

Mackie Designs, a Woodinville-based manufacturer and marketer of professional audio systems, recently appointed Peter Watts to vice president of engineering. Watts formerly served as director of engineering.

Shuttle Express

Shuttle Express, an airport transportation company, recently relocated to a 25,000-square foot building in Renton. John Hagen has been appointed manager of planning and routing; Terry Sorum has been appointed manager of dispatch; Steve Hendrickshas been promoted to manager of marketing and sales; and Jeannie Miller has been promoted to sales assistant for the marketing and sales department.

Lee Hecht Harrison

Rick McPherson recently joined the international career management firm Lee Hecht Harrison as vice president of business development in the Bellevue office.

ABC

Ann Jarvis has joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington as director of eduction and safety. In her new role, Jarvis will plan education, safety and workers' compensation seminars. She also will manage the resource center, assist association members in health and safety issues, and coordinate school-to-work programs. Jarvis has 30 years of experience in the construction industry and holds a degree in communications from Seattle Pacific University.

M.A. Segale

Tukwila-based M.A. Segale has received a 1998 Quality in Construction Award from the National Asphalt Pavement Association for an asphalt pavement job on state Route 405. Segale's work included widening and resurfacing the busy stretch of highway. The job required closing down the highway for two weekends without causing gridlock on surrounding streets.

Modern Building Systems

Modern Building Systems of Aumsville, Ore., recently won three awards from the Modular Building Institute. The company took first place in the institute's "Marketing Piece" category for a brochure on professional offices. It also took first place in the "Educational Building -- 5,000 Square Feet and Under" category for a modular classroom building in Bend, Ore. The third award was an honorable mention in the "Mobile Office -- Single Wide" category for two restroom facilities for the Portland Saturday Market.