May 11, 1999

Wastewater workshops for sand & gravel

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology is considering a proposal to reissue a general permit for sand and gravel wastewater discharges. Before a decision is made, however, the agency this summer will hold public workshops and hearings around the state. The proposed permit would apply to Washington industries that discharge process water; mine dewatering water; and stormwater associated with sand and gravel operations, rock quarries, concrete batch plants and asphalt batch plants. Federal law requires a permitting process for the discharge of any wastewater. The proposed general permit would control the release of pollutants to ground and surface waters. It would implement standard discharge treatment, monitoring and reporting requirements. (A general permit is similar to an individual wastewater discharge permit, except that it applies to a group of facilities as a whole.) According to Ecology, the proposed permit is similar to the current permit it replaces, but includes fewer pollutants to monitor. Monitoring for turbidity, however, would increase. After the public meetings, Ecology expects to issue the revised general permit on July 1, 1999. To request a copy of the proposed permit, contact Keith Johnson, Department of Ecology, Water Quality Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. Or call (360) 407-6442, fax (360) 407-6426, email, or Web. The workshops and hearings will be held as follows:

• June 7. At the Department of Ecology, Eastern Regional Office, N. 4601 Monroe, Suite 202, Spokane.
• June 8. In Ecology's Central Regional Office, 15 W. Yakima Ave., Suite 200, Yakima.
• June 11. At the agency's Northwest Regional Office, 3190 160th Ave. S.E., Bellevue.
• June 14. At Ecology's Southwest Regional/HQ Office, 300 Desmond Dr., Lacey.

McCormack is ERM program director

BELLEVUE -- Timothy McCormack has been named program director of Northwest Site Investigation and Remediation Services, a part of Environmental Resources Management. McCormack is based in ERM's Bellevue office. As program director he will oversee technical operations and client development in the Northwest.

Clean boats out of the water

OLYMPIA -- The state departments of Ecology and Natural Resources are urging boaters this season to haul their boats out of the water before having their hulls cleaned. A particular concern is "soft" marine paint, which has sloughing or ablative characteristics, and which can be released to the environment during cleaning. The paints often contain tin and copper, which are toxic to marine life. Ecology hopes for voluntary compliance with the directive, but it can take enforcement action with penalties up to $10,000 per day per violation.

Honeybees as landmine detectors?

RICHLAND -- Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are investigating whether honeybees equipped with tiny radio-frequency tags can be useful in detecting the minute amounts of explosives that indicate the presence of landmines. The catch is, the bees will have to be trained. Here's how it's supposed to work. The radio tags, each weighing no more than a grain of rice, will be attached to the bees' bodies. They will allow researchers to track individual bees -- when they leave, which direction they go, and when they return. The information will be sent to a computer. At the same time, an array of analytical instruments inside the hive will scan each bee for chemicals found in explosives. Together, the two systems could pinpoint the locations of landmines, the researchers say. A field test is scheduled for this spring.

Groups ask end to pesticides in schools

SEATTLE -- A group of more than 150 individuals and organizations yesterday called on Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Olchefske to stop using pesticides in schools. At a news conference held in front of Greenwood Elementary School, representatives from the Washington Toxics Coalition, the Seattle Parent Teacher Association and a parent from Greenwood expressed their concerns about the use of toxics where children are present. They released a letter to Olchefske that was signed by 18 environmental, parent and health groups and over 150 individuals. The letter calls for: an end to the use of pesticides that cause cancer, nervous system damage, disruption of the endocrine system, or are highly toxic; no use of pesticides for aesthetic purposes; and notification to all parents and staff in writing at least 48 hours before pesticide applications. Elizabeth Loudon, of the Washington Toxics Coalition, said her organization and the PTA have been working with the Seattle School District to develop a pesticide policy. But the parties have hit an impasse over key provisions requested by the environmental and parent groups. And pesticide industry lobbyists have been urging a weaker policy, Loudon said.

Makahs issue whaling permit

NEAH BAY (AP) -- The Makah tribe said Monday that it had issued a whaling permit and planned to proceed with a hunt for a gray whale. It was not immediately clear when the hunt would occur. The permit allows for a 500-yard Coast Guard exclusionary zone around the Makah canoe and a support boat, keeping protest vessels at bay. Whaling commission president Keith Johnson said the permit was activated at 11:55 a.m. because boats from the anti-whaling group Sea Defense Alliance were threatening the whaling canoe and a support boat. The tribal boats had set out this morning on a practice run -- as they have been doing for weeks now. But Johnson added, "So now we've got a whaling permit, so we're going hunting." He confirmed migrating gray whales are in the area. It could not be immediately determined whether a federal observer was at the scene. Under the tribe's hunt-management plan, an observer from the National Marine Fisheries Service must be on site for any hunt.

Weyerhaeusers sue to stop dump

TACOMA (AP) -- A lawsuit to block construction of a $60 million dump has been filed in a second move to block the project, and opponents say at least one more suit also will be filed. The case was filed Friday in Pierce County Superior Court by William and Gail Weyerhaeuser, members of the timber family. They live next to the dump site south of Graham. Landfill opponents around Graham and Eatonville were encouraged when, on April 27, Gov. Gary Locke signed into law a bill they contend prohibits the project. The lawsuit, which claims unspecified damages, says new law gives the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department the power to withdraw a solid waste permit for the dump. "It seems pretty obvious," said Bill Lynn, the Weyerhaeusers' lawyer. "I don't understand why the Health Department won't stop them." Health Department lawyer Cliff Allo said he had not seen the lawsuit and would not comment. At least one additional lawsuit against the dump is expected, health officials said. Work on the project began April 16. Workers have been conducting wetland protection measures, clearing land and building roads. Jon Savelle is the Journal's environment editor. He can be contacted at (206) 622-8272.

Showplace Design & Remodeling

Diane Foreman of Showplace Design & Remodeling in Redmond recently received top honors in the National Kitchen & Bath Association 1999 National Design Contest.

Graham & Dunn

Graham & Dunn, a Seattle-based law firm, recently added Bradford J. Axel as an associate and member of the firm's litigation services group. Axel formerly served as an associate with Hopkins & Sutter in Chicago. Robert C. Cumbow recently joined the firm as a shareholder and chair of the intellectual property practice group. J. Andrew Jackson recently joined the firm as an associate and member of the corporate services group. Jackson formerly served as an associate with Rudnick, Wolfe, Epstien & Zeidman in Washington, D.C.