Jun 01, 1999

Pateros treatment plant funded

YAKIMA -- The state Department of Ecology has awarded a $98,000 loan to the city of Pateros for final design work on a new wastewater treatment plant. The system will include a backup mechanism that will allow treatment to continue during equipment failures. It will also will meet new federal requirements for biosolids. Money for the work comes from the state's Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, which is designed to assist local governments with low-interest loans for water-quality projects. The fund uses monies from both federal and state sources. This year $45 million was available. For further information, contact Ecology at (509) 575-2610.

Comments sought on Methow Basin plan

YAKIMA -- Proposed revisions to the Methow River Basin Management Plan will get a public airing June 10 in Winthrop, Okanogan County. The state Department of Ecology is holding the event in order to gather oral and written comments on its revised draft rule for the plan. The revisions incorporate several of the recommendations from the Methow Valley Water Pilot Project report, as well as from the Methow Valley Ground Water Advisory Committee report. Proposed rule amendments include:

• Establishing incentives for agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial water conservation;
• Establishing a water bank;
• Requiring all new uses of water to come from new water storage projects, transfer of existing water rights, reuse, or water that has been saved through water conservation or conversion practices and deposited in the water bank;
• Establishing criteria and converting seasonal water use to year-round, in-house domestic water use; and
• Encouraging establishment of trust water rights.

A public comment period runs through June 18. Ecology will consider written and oral comments from the hearing, and will accept comments by mail. Send them to: Thom Lufkin, Department of Ecology, Water Resources Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600. The hearing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Barn, 51 N. Highway 20. Further information is available at (509) 575-2610.

Grants awarded for fisheries projects

WASHINGTON -- Fish habitat restoration projects around the country will receive grants totaling $150,000 this year thanks to a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the American Sportfishing Association. The awards were announced last week. Ten projects will receive grant funding, which is adminstered by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and ASA's FishAmerica Foundation. They are among 18 recipients of monies from the program, which began last October. To date $250,000 has been disbursed, but over the three-year period of the partnership the grants will total $700,000. In Washington, these projects received funding:

• Mid Puget Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group, $7,000 to further improve salmonid passage and riparian habitat on the North Fork of Newaukum Creek;
• Adopt-A-Stream Foundation, $10,000 to increase spawning and rearing habitat for salmon and trout in Lund's Gulch stream; and
• Skagit Fisheries Group, $17,000 for an innovative approach to increasing nursery and foraging habitat in Finney Creek.

For more information, see the NMFS Web site.

Atmosphere Alliance joins Energy Outreach

OLYMPIA -- Atmosphere Alliance and Energy Outreach Center have merged to form a new organization called Climate Solutions. Based in Olympia, the new organization intends to combat global warming by promoting Northwest leadership in practical and profitable alternatives. The group will focus on public education regarding global warming; advocacy of policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions; promoting clean technologies and transportation; and providing access to practical opportunities in energy supply, transportation and building construction. Climate Solutions will issue its first report, "In Hot Water," in June. The report details the threats to the Northwest economy and quality of life posed by global warming. Offices of Climate Solutions are located at 610 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia, WA 98501. Telephone (360) 352-1763; fax (360) 943-4977. E-mail.

Ridolfi Engineers finds new habitat

SEATTLE -- Environmental engineering firm Ridolfi Engineers says it has "moved our 'natural resources' a few blocks north to bigger habitat." The firm's new niche is located at 1411 Fourth Ave., Suite 770, Seattle, WA 98101. The telephone and fax remain the same: (206) 682-7294 and (206) 682-5008.

A trio of promotions at Hart Crowser

SEATTLE -- Three employees have been promoted in the Seattle office of environmental engineering firm Hart Crowser. Laura Phillips, the firm's controller, has been promoted to associate. Carl Einberger is now a senior associate hydrogeologist. And Matthew Snell has been promoted to project remediation engineer.

Apply for a Governor's Award

OLYMPIA -- It's time for all good operators to be recognized for their reductions in hazardous substance waste and pollution. The Governor's Awards are given to businesses and public entities that have done outstanding work in pollution prevention in Washington. Organizations that have gone beyond traditional treatment, management and disposal of waste are encouraged to apply. A panel of experts will evaluate the applications. They will look for reduced waste generation through process design, raw material substitution, equipment changes and preventive maintenance. Applicants may also submit other examples of their environmental commitment, such as energy and water conservation, waste recovery and reuse, and solid waste reduction. The application deadline is July 7. For further information, contact Joanne Phillipson, Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6740.

Recycle that roofing

SNOHOMISH -- In response to a recent Journal story about roofing, American Roofing Recyclers, of Snohomish, informs us that it, too, takes old roofing materials. The company accepts all asphalt composition shingles, with or without gravel, and wood shingles as long as they are part of a load containing one or more layers of composition from the same roof. The company can be reached at (360) 563-6114 or fax (360) 563-0875.