1) Step up to Support Whatcom County’s Shoreline Management Plan!
Write a letter or attend the hearing!
Feb 27; 7pm: Public Hearing on Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program Update
County Council chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham
2)Feb 27; Public comment sought for Puget Sound’s orca recovery plan
3) Feb 28: 6- 9:30pm: Short Course on Local Planning
Whatcom County Courthouse, Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham
4) Feb 28; 6:30-8:30: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils/Commissioners Meeting
Presentation on Stormwater and Lake Whatcom
Bellingham City Hall Council Chambers, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham
5) March 1: Pre-registration deadline for the Georgia Basin Puget Sound Research Conference on March 26th-29th in Vancouver, British Columbia
6) March 14; 7:00pm: Residential Wind Power presentation
Fairhaven Library, 1117 12th Street, Bellingham.
7) March 16; 7-8pm: Dead Birds Tell No Lies: The Role of Citizen Science in Coastal Ecosystem Monitoring
Hampton Inn, Hospitality Room, 3985 Bennett Drive (off of Bakerview and I-5), Bellingham
8) March 17; 10am-4pm 17 Shorebird Survey Training
Fairhaven Library Auditorium (upstairs), Bellingham
9) 2007 Environmental Health Lecture Series at Seattle Town Hall
Wed. March 21st - Biofuels - David Kircher, Peter Moulton, Tim Stearns
Wed. April 18th - Sustainable Systems - John Robinson
10) Through April; Volunteer Your Septic System for an Important Study
11) NEWS: Wind shifts devastate ocean life; the delicate interplay between the oceans and atmosphere is changing with catastrophic consequences
February 17, 2007 – Jonathan Fildes, BBC News
12) NEWS: WA House passes bill phasing out toxic flame retardants
February 17, 2007 – Rachel La Corte, Associated Press
13) NEWS: Cancer may be tied to creek; Asbestos exposure risk traced to Whatcom County stream
February 17, 2007 – Andrew Schneider, Seattle P-I
14) OPINION: Fairhaven enthusiasts provide suggestions
February 19, 2007 – Editors, The Bellingham Herald
15) NEWS: Cruise-ship agreement funding accord reached
February 22, 2007 – WA State Department of Ecology
16) NEWS: The Night Watch; Low-tide beach walk highlights creatures of the dark
February 23, 2007 – Kie Relyea, The Bellingham Herald
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News, Events and Opportunities listings are provided to the interested community as a service of the North Sound Baykeeper.
The North Sound Baykeeper is your local advocate for the protection and conservation of marine waters in Whatcom and Skagit Counties .
To help support the North Sound Baykeeper project, send a check to North Sound Baykeeper, RE Sources, 1155 N. State St., suite 623 , Bellingham , WA , 98225 Specify Baykeeper in the subject line.
RE Sources North Sound Baykeeper website: www.re-sources.org/baykeeper.htm
1)Step up to Support Whatcom County’s Shoreline Management Plan!
Write a letter or attend the hearing!
Feb 27; 7pm: Public Hearing on Whatcom County Shoreline Management Program (SMP) Update
County Council chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham
From the North Sound Baykeeper: The SMP is a document that is designed to protect the ecological function of shorelines, while allowing for development on shorelines. The latest draft of the SMP does a fairly food job of balancing development and environmental interests.
On Tuesday night, citizens are invited to come to the Public Hearing to weigh in on the SMP. Some citizens will say that the SMP goes too far in regulating shorelines; others will say it does not go far enough. It is important that the Whatcom County Council hear from you. Tell them that protection of the shorelines is important and that you oppose weakening any protections for our shorelines.
The group Futurewise has put together some good talking points:
Overall, you support council adoption of the proposed draft, because it will protect healthy shorelines and communities:
* It ensures that clean water and salmon habitat is protected as new development occurs
* It protects the quality of life of shoreline neighborhoods, by reducing shoreline erosion, and ensuring land uses are compatible with each other
* It makes sure that land uses that generate new demand for public access provide it
* It encourages opportunities for restoration, through incentive programs and other volunteer opportunities
If you cannot attend the hearing: Consider sending an e-mail to the Whatcom County Council: council@co.whatcom.wa.us
For a description of the Shoreline Management Program, go to: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/shorelines_critical_areas/smp_current.jsp
From this link, you can also get more information on shoreline function and the a draft of the SMP.
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2)Feb 27: Public comment sought for Puget Sound’s orca recovery plan
The federal government has proposed a recovery plan for Puget Sound's orcas. Public comments are due by Feb. 27. For more information, look online: www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Whales-Dolphins-Porpoise/Killer-Whales/ESA-Status/Orca-Recovery-Plan.cfm
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3)Feb 28: 6- 9:30pm: Short Course on Local Planning
Whatcom County Courthouse, Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham
Topics:
The Legal Basis of Planning in Washington State
Comprehensive Planning Basics
Urban Villages: Towards Vibrant, Livable Communities
Presented by: The Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development and the Planning Association of Washington
Hosted by: Whatcom County, City of Bellingham and the League of Women Voters
For more information contact:
Whatcom County Plan and Development Services: (360) 676 – 6907
Hal Hart – Director, or Becky Boxx – Long Range Planning Coordinator
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4)Feb 28; 6:30-8:30: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils/Commissioners Meeting
Presentation on Stormwater and Lake Whatcom
Bellingham City Hall Council Chambers, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham
Three stormwater experts from academia and the Department of Ecology will address stormwater treatment and retrofits, in regard to Lake Whatcom.
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5) March 1: Pre-registration deadline for the Georgia Basin Puget Sound Research Conference on March 26th-29th in Vancouver, British Columbia
The Georgia Basin Action Plan partners and the Puget Sound Action Team invite you to attend the 2007 Georgia Basin Puget Sound Research Conference, March 26-29, 2007 at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, BC . Conference topics include habitat and species, pressures on the ecosystem, integrating knowledge, fecision-making and action.
Conference highlights include oral presentations, posters, interactive workgroup sessions, facilitate panels, technical workshops
For US travelers, a valid passport OR a drivers license and birth certificate are required when traveling to and from Canada by land. This will be the 8th premier research conference in the transboundary regions hosted by the Georgia Basin Action Plan and the Puget Sound Action Team. The event draws scientists, First Nations and tribal government representatives, resource managers, community leaders, policy makers, educators and students together to share scientific information concerning the condition and management of the shared Georgia Basin Puget Sound region. The event will feature oral presentations, workshops, posters, special evening events, and guest plenary speakers.
Registration information: Register on-line at www.researchconference.org. If you require hotel lodging, you are encouraged to book before March 1st to take advantage of the conference rates at the Westin Bayshore.
For additional information, contact the co-chairs.
Justin Longo: 250-472-4316
Sarah Brace: 360-725-5464
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6)March 14; 7:00pm: Residential Wind Power presentation
Fairhaven Library, 1117 12th Street, Bellingham.
Come listen to Ian Woofenden, Editor of Home Power magazine and Northwest Director of Solar Energy International (SEI), talk about solar power for your home. Presentation is free and open to the public.
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7) March 16; 7-8pm: Dead Birds Tell No Lies: The Role of Citizen Science in Coastal Ecosystem Monitoring
Dr. Julia K. Parrish, Associate Professor, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences Executive Director, COASST (Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team)
Hampton Inn, Hospitality Room, 3985 Bennett Drive (off of Bakerview and I-5), Bellingham
What can beached birds tell us about the health of marine ecosystems?
Why survey beached birds (and not whales, fish or seaweed)?
Do large die-offs occur? Why?
What does it mean for the future of seabird populations in the Pacific Northwest?
Join Dr. Julia Parrish, as she explores the biology of some of our most common marine birds, including murres, cormorants, and fulmars; what determines their distribution and abundance as live birds, and where and when they wash ashore; using the database created by the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST). COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington that works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation. This training is offered in partnership with RE Sources.
For more information on the talk or training call COASST at (206) 221-6893 or RE Sources North Sound Baykeeper, Wendy Steffensen at(360) 733-8307.
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8) March 17; 10am-4pm 17 Shorebird Survey Training
Fairhaven Library Auditorium (upstairs), Bellingham
Want to volunteer for COASST? Join our team of more than 300 volunteers that work together with scientists to help proactively monitor the marine ecosystem.
For more information on the talk or training call COASST at (206) 221-6893 or RE Sources North Sound Baykeeper, Wendy Steffensen at(360) 733-8307.
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9)2007 Environmental Health Lecture Series at Seattle Town Hall
Wed. March 21st - Biofuels - David Kircher, Peter Moulton, Tim Stearns
Wed. April 18th - Sustainable Systems - John Robinson
All lectures will be held at Seattle Town Hall from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., preceded by a reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Advance reservations are $30 for the four-lecture series until Jan. 15th; or $10 in advance for individual lectures. $15 at the door.
Sponsored by the Seattle Biotech Legacy Foundation. Organized by the Institute for Children’s Environmental Health
See details and register at http://washington.chenw.org/lectures.html .
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10)Through April; Volunteer Your Septic System for an Important Study
The Puget Sound Restoration Fund in partnership with Whatcom County and the EPA Region 10 Laboratory is conducting a microbial source tracking pilot study in the Drayton Harbor watershed. These analytical techniques use DNA to identify the source of fecal coliforms in water samples. Part of this analysis compares the DNA "fingerprints" of known sources in a "library" with DNA found in bacteria grown from water samples.
It is critical that the Whatcom County Health Department gains permission to sample about 30 septic tanks in the Drayton Harbor watershed for this study between February and April 2007 to use in the source library. Please contact John Wolpers at Whatcom County Health by e-mail jwolpers@co.whatcom.wa.us or phone (676-6724) to schedule a visit with Whatcom County Staff if you would like to participate in this program. You will need to uncover the inspection port of your septic tank so that a sample can be drawn.
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11)NEWS: Wind shifts devastate ocean life; the delicate interplay between the oceans and atmosphere is changing with catastrophic consequences.
February 17, 2007 – Jonathan Fildes, BBC News
That is the conclusion of researchers investigating "dead zones" off the coast of the US, where populations of marine life were suddenly wiped out.
These vast graveyards occur where there are disturbances to currents driven by coastal winds, they say.
Dead zones have been recorded off the coast of California and Oregon every year for the last five years.
The most intense event, which left the ocean floor littered with the carcasses of crabs, happened in 2006.
"It was unlike anything that we've measured along the Oregon coast in the past five decades," said Dr Francis Chan of Oregon State University (OSU).
Dead zones have also been seen in the waters off Chile, Namibia and South Africa.
Plant bloom
The common factor between all of these areas is that marine currents off the coast rise from the deep ocean.
These upwelling zones bring nutrient-rich water up from the deep ocean, triggering plankton blooms that underpin the coastal food chain. Nearly 50% of the world's fisheries are in these areas.
The currents are driven by winds that move surface water away from the coast, drawing more up from the deep.
Using observations from the west coast of the US, researchers believe that this upwelling is being disrupted; there have been changes in its timing and intensity.
For example, in 2005 the upwelling was delayed, which meant that the plankton blooms did not occur, leading to a collapse in fish populations.
This particularly hit migrating salmon, which annually pass along the coast in April and May.
"In 2005, they found nothing to eat," said Dr Bill Peterson of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). "By the time upwelling started, they were dead."
Huge graveyard
An even more catastophic event occurred in 2006 when the amount of upwelling doubled, leading to a huge influx of nutrients and a supercharged plankton bloom.
When these sank to the ocean floor, they stripped the water column of oxygen, creating a 3,000 sq km (1,150 sq mile) dead zone, where creatures unable to swim away suffocated en masse.
Dr Francis Chan used underwater cameras to survey the area two months after the event.
"We were shocked to see a graveyard," he said. "Frame after frame of carcass, carcass, carcass."
Crabs, worms and sea stars all perished in the anoxic water. On the surface, sea birds were also affected by the lack of food.
Scientists found the carcasses of migratory seabirds such as auklets washing up on the beaches.
Uncertain future
The researchers believe the cause of these events was changes in the intensity of the coastal winds, perhaps brought about by global warming.
"What we know from the climate change models is that the land will warm more than the sea," Jack Barth or Oregon State University told the BBC News website.
It is this difference in temperature and pressure that drives the winds.
"As you intensify that gradient - that will drive the stronger winds."
To confirm this link to climate change, the researchers say they need another 10 to 15 years of data. Other work also needs to be done to see if there is a common link between the US dead zones and those seen elsewhere.
In the meantime, they add, we must change our approach to managing and using these ecosystems, particularly for fish stocks.
"The most prudent course of action is to begin to think differently about what is happening," said Dr Jane Lubchenco, also of OSU.
"Climate models predict increasing uncertainty with wild fluctuations. We should expect more surprises."
The research was presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in San Francisco, US.
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12)NEWS: WA House passes bill phasing out toxic flame retardants
February 17, 2007 – Rachel La Corte, Associated Press
After an emotionally charged debate, the House on Friday passed a measure that would phase out the use of some fireproofing chemicals in televisions, computers and upholstered furniture as long as safer alternatives are available.
Supporters of the bill said it was an important step in improving the health of the environment and people, but opponents expressed concerns about fire safety.
The measure, which is supported by Gov. Chris Gregoire and the state Department of Ecology, passed on a 71-24 vote, with three lawmakers excused. It now heads to the Senate, which is considering its own measure.
"If we rush into this too fast and too furious we could be responsible for some devastating fires in the near future, and that worries me," said Rep. Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee.
But the bill's supporters said safety would not be sacrificed and noted its support by the state fire marshal and the state associations of fire chiefs and firefighters.
"Some would like to lead you to believe that this is a tradeoff between fire safety and toxicity. It is not," said Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina and main sponsor of the House measure. "I would never introduce legislation that puts our children at risk."
The measure prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of most items containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers, commonly known as PBDEs. Two forms of PBDEs, penta and octa, are no longer produced in this country because U.S. manufacturers of the two chemicals voluntarily stopped production in 2004, making deca the most commonly used form. Its largest use is in the black plastic casings of TVs.
The measure before the Legislature focuses on deca, which Ecology Director Jay Manning says has been found in people, salmon, seals and orcas. In a recent guest column in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Manning said deca was found in a recent survey of fish in the state's waters.
Toxic flame retardants are "a poison and they're seeping into our soil, into our drinking water, into our homes and into our bodies," Hunter said. "And more importantly they're seeping into our children."
Under the measure, after Jan. 1, 2008, mattresses with deca would be banned, and the date for banning the substance in residential upholstered furniture, television or computers with electronic enclosures would be Jan. 1, 2011.
There would be some exemptions under the bill, including the sale of used cars made before Jan. 1, 2008, that have parts containing PBDEs, safety systems required by the Federal Aviation Administration and medical devices.
Under the measure, the Department of Ecology and the Department of Health would have to review alternatives to deca-BDE products, consulting with a fire safety committee that would include the state's director of fire protection and the executive director of the Washington Fire Chiefs. By Dec. 15, 2008, the two agencies would have to report to the Legislature on the availability of alternatives to the compound.
Opponents expressed concern that the alternatives may fall short.
"Are they as effective, are they as good as preventing fires, or slowing fires?" asked Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside. "Alternatives should be better. We should not be taking action to ban one material for something that is less than the material that we replace."
Gregoire has made the ban a priority as part of her plan to clean up Puget Sound by 2020.
"It's a huge step forward for the environment, it's a huge step forward for human health," said Clifford Traisman, a lobbyist for Washington Conservation Voters and the Washington Environmental Council.
While other states have approved laws to ban or phase out the use of penta and octa-BDEs, no other state has banned all forms of PBDEs like Washington wants to do, said John Kyte, North American program director for the Bromine Science and Environmental Forum, an international industry group.
"I do think it goes too far," he said. "Deca is not posing any sort of human health or environmental concern in the state of Washington. It is not toxic. It is the most tested and analyzed flame retardant in the world."
Some lawmakers agreed.
"This bill does not make the environment any safer, it does not make one child any safer," said Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger. "It sends a purely political statement."
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13)NEWS: Cancer may be tied to creek; Asbestos exposure risk traced to Whatcom County stream
February 17, 2007 – Andrew Schneider, Seattle P-I
Federal and state investigators are trying to determine whether six cases of a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos are linked to a decades-old landslide and a Whatcom County creek that floods every year.
The six cases, from 1992 through 2004, were found during a check of the state cancer registry, Wayne Clifford of the Washington State Department of Health said.
Because the registry hasn't been updated with data from later years, it is not known whether there might be additional cases after 2004.
In a report issued last week by the Environmental Protection Agency, hazardous levels of asbestos were found along Swift Creek near Everson. In its report to Whatcom County health officials, the federal agency cautioned that there were possible health risks to those who hiked, biked or jogged beside the creek or in any way disturbed the material along the creek's banks.
"We know the asbestos levels in the material coming off Sumas Mountain are high, but it will take more analysis and interviews to see if the reported cases of mesothelioma can be linked to the material in the creek," said Clifford, site assessments section manager in the Office of Environmental Health Assessments.
Washington has a high level of asbestos disease among former workers at shipyards and from a W.R. Grace plant in Spokane that made insulation from asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, he said.
"We need to check out the work history of those identified from the registry and try to determine if they had asbestos exposure from sources other than the creek," he said.
Mesothelioma is a rare disease -- usually only one case is found in 100,000 people. Whatcom County, with a population under 200,000, could be expected to have two cases at any given time. Symptoms of the disease, which can be found in the linings of the lungs and abdomen, may not appear for decades after exposure. But it kills more than half of its victims within seven months of diagnosis.
The cluster of six cases in a population the size of Whatcom County is not reason to panic, according to a health department communication obtained by the Seattle P-I. But the document, distributed last week, added "the fact that a cluster exists at all is significant."
Occupational background, smoking history and other factors will be evaluated to determine whether the six cases are related to the sediment pulled from the creek.
Numerous studies by federal and state agencies into how to stabilize the slide or effectively deal with the annual deposit of asbestos-contaminated sediments have been conducted over the years, but no feasible solutions have been found.
"If these (six) cases are verified from Swift Creek, it obviously changes the complexion of this project immensely," the communication said.
No corporation mined or dumped the chrysotile asbestos that has contaminated the area. The asbestos is naturally occurring in the soil that sloughs off the mountain and clogs the creek during yearly snowmelt and heavy rains.
An initial slide off Sumas Mountain in the 1930s slumped into Swift Creek. It left the mountainside exposed, and every year since then, huge amounts of sediment laden with asbestos and heavy metals slide down and clog the creek, causing flooding of adjacent farmland.
The state says fewer than 50 families live within a half-mile of Swift Creek, but efforts to dredge the creek to control the flooding have exacerbated the spread of asbestos contamination.
More than a half-century ago, the Army Corps of Engineers began dredging the sediment from Swift Creek channel to limit the flooding. For decades, the dredged material with its heavy contamination of asbestos was placed beside the waterway.
"What happened to it then was anyone's guess," Clifford said. "We know that contractors hauled truckloads of the material away to use as fill at building sites and for roads. Local residents used it to cover driveways. This material is probably all over the place."
The state reported last year that perhaps 2 million cubic yards of the contaminated material has been trucked off to unknown locations.
In preparing its report, the EPA measured asbestos released into the air not only by recreational activities, but also by the loading, hauling and spreading of the dredged material.
"Elevated levels of exposure to asbestos fibers" were found for all activities, the report concluded, and that could "lead to an increased level of long-term risk."
Government agencies have determined that no drinking water in Washington is drawn from the contaminated creek or the Sumas River into which it flows. The Sumas flows into the Fraser River 10 miles north of the border in British Columbia, and it is unknown whether Canadians are at risk from the asbestos. Canadian officials are aware of the asbestos contamination, Clifford said.
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14)OPINION: Fairhaven enthusiasts provide suggestions
February 19, 2007 – Editors, The Bellingham Herald
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/105/story/49263.html
To access Bellingham Herald articles that are 7 or more days old, access them at the Bellingham Public Library or purchase them at the Bellingham Herald archives: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/
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15)NEWS: Cruise-ship agreement funding accord reached
February 22, 2007 – WA State Department of Ecology
OLYMPIA - Cruise ship lines will cover the state's costs to administer an environmental agreement that limits and tracks wastewater discharges from large cruise liners.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the Port of Seattle have signed a companion accord to the 2004 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Ecology, the Port and the NorthWest CruiseShip Association (NWCA).
Ecology spent approximately $47,500 to inspect the wastewater treatment systems aboard the large ships, collect and test wastewater samples, review records, monitor compliance and prepare reports last year. The Port will reimburse Ecology for those costs, and collect that amount from NWCA-member ships - the large liners that sail between Seattle and Alaska from April to October each year - as part of their moorage fees.
The three parties plan to make a similar financial agreement each year.
"This cost arrangement ensures that Ecology can continue its work on the cruise ship agreement, which adds protection to Puget Sound and other Washington marine waters," said David Peeler, who manages Ecology's water-quality program. "Like on-shore wastewater permit holders, these ships will now cover the state's costs for overseeing their discharges."
"This is another great example of the Port and the cruise industry working cooperatively in the interest of environmental stewardship to protect the waters of our state," said Port of Seattle Commission President John Creighton.
The MOU bans cruise ships from discharging waste water in Washington waters unless the ship uses advanced wastewater treatment technology required in Alaskan waters. Each ship must obtain approval from Ecology before discharging with an advanced system in Washington. Ships may discharge only while under way at least a mile from berth, unless they have enhancements - approved by Ecology - that exceed Alaskan requirements.
The Port of Seattle expects 18 ships to make 189 port calls in Seattle this year.
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16)NEWS: The Night Watch; Low-tide beach walk highlights creatures of the dark
February 23, 2007 – Kie Relyea, The Bellingham Herald
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/49544.html
To access Bellingham Herald articles that are 7 or more days old, access them at the Bellingham Public Library or purchase them at the Bellingham Herald archives: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/
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The North Sound Baykeeper is your local advocate for the protection and conservation of marine waters in Whatcom and Skagit Counties.
The North Sound Baykeeper is a project of RE Sources, a local not-for-profit organization, dedicated to providing education about local environmental issues, assisting the public in identifying and solving local environmental problems, and to demonstrating environmentally viable business practices.
Events and Opportunities listings are provided to the interested community as a service of the North Sound Baykeeper
The North Sound Baykeeper is funded by private giving dollars. To help support the North Sound Baykeeper project, send a check to North Sound Baykeeper, RE Sources, 1155 N. State St., suite 623 , Bellingham , WA , 98225 . Specify Baykeeper in the subject line.
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Wendy Steffensen
North Sound Baykeeper
RE Sources
1155 North State Street #623
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 733-8307
