Cleaning Up: Work in full swing for Everett Smelter cleanup

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramThe (Everett) Herald has a good rundown on the work under way to clean up arsenic and lead contamination from the Everett Smelter at properties in North Everett.This phase of work will wrap up in spring 2012. More properties will be cleaned up in 2012 and subsequent years.Check out our Everett Smelter web pages to learn more about the

Air Time: Ecology calls off burn bans in Eastern WA

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will expire today (Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011) in seven Eastern Washington counties because air quality has improved, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Kittitas, and Walla Walla counties will expire at 10 a.m. today.During the burn

Fecal Matters: Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles is Open

BEACH Program UpdatePort Angeles - Hollywood Beach in Clallam County is open for recreational water activity. After receiving notification of a nearby sewage discharge, the county collected bacteria samples at the beach. Results indicate bacteria concentrations have dropped to background levels. Clallam County Health District removed the swimming advisory signs today, previously posted on

Air Time: Some perspective on burn bans

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramEcology started calling burn bans in some Eastern Washington counties on Dec. 3.And here we are, nearly two weeks later, with the burn bans still in effect in Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens counties. In addition, similar Stage 1 burn bans are in effect in Kittitas and Walla Walla counties.This morning, I mentioned to Clint

Burn bans still going in 7 Eastern WA counties

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will continue until at least Tuesday (Dec. 20, 2011) in seven Eastern Washington counties due to stagnant air conditions, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Kittitas, and Walla Walla counties will continue until at least 10 a.m.

Fecal Matters: Sewage Spill Near Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles

BEACH Program UpdateToday, the Clallam County Health Department issued a swimming advisory at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles. The advisory was issued due to a sewage discharge near the beach.Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne

Capture the King and share with Ecology

By Suzanna Stoike and Johanna Ofner, Department of Ecology



Public invited to share photos of high tide
Did you know some of the year’s highest tides occur in the winter?

These tides — often called “King Tides” — occur naturally when the sun and the moon align, causing an increased gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans.

This year Washington’s king tides occur in December and January.

The

Air Time: Burn ban starts in Kittitas County

By Seth Preston, Communication Manager, Air Quality ProgramA burn ban starts at 4 p.m. today (Friday, Dec. 9, 2011) for Kittitas County, where stagnant air continues to trap harmful smoke, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 13), when it could be called off or extended. The

WSU students create a buzz about Hanford among Tri-City youth

By Erika Holmes, Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist, Nuclear Waste ProgramWorking with Jeff Holmes (my husband), an English instructor at the Tri-Cities branch of Washington State University (WSU), we tasked his 48 technical communication students with the goal of reaching high school and college students about the Hanford nuclear site cleanup. Usually when students are given

Air Time: Burn bans extended; Walla Walla County added

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will continue until at least Monday (Dec. 12, 2011) in five Eastern Washington counties because stagnant air continues to trap harmful smoke, according to the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).In addition, Ecology also is calling a Stage 1 burn ban in Walla Walla County starting at 10 a.m. Friday (Dec. 9).Ecology’s

Ecology, Washington State Patrol and Tukwilla Fire Department responding to semi-tractor trailer truck accident in King County

By Curt Hart, spills communications manager, 360-480-7908 (curt.hart@ecy.wa.gov)UPDATE: Dec. 8, 2011 (2:45 a.m.)Ecology, Washington State Patrol, Tukwila Fire Department, Washington State Department of Transportation, King County Sheriff's Office and private cleanup contractors continued working through the night to remove the truck and trailer from the Duwamish River and keep traffic safely

Dreaming of a greener holiday season

by Margaret Hill, Administrative Services, LaceyThe end of the year can be hard on budgets and on the environment. What follows are some ideas on how to make the upcoming holidays a little greener and maybe even help you keep a little more "green" of your own.Keep giving gifts, but...Consider giving the gift of service such as cooking a meal, tuning up a friend’s bicycle, or watching the kids so

Tacoma Smelter Plume: Public meeting in Des Moines tonight

By Hannah Aoyagi, Public Involvement Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup ProgramTonight we are holding our fourth and final public meeting on the draft Tacoma Smelter Plume cleanup plan.Tuesday, December 6, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Des Moines Activity Center2045 South 216th St., Des Moines6:30 - 7:00 p.m. Open house session7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Presentation, question and answer8:00 - 8:30 p.m. Open house

Fecal Matters: Swimming Beach Closure at Seahurst Park, Burien, WA

BEACH Program Update

The King County Health District closed the swimming beach at Seahurst County Park in Burien, WA. The County received notification of a sewage spill near the swimming beach.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne

Air Time: Ecology extends burn bans in 5 Eastern WA counties

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will continue until at least Friday (Dec. 9, 2011) in five Eastern Washington counties where stagnant air continues to trap harmful smoke.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens counties will continue until at least 10 a.m. Friday, when they could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 bans

Ecology, Coast Guard, NRC and Ballard Diving respond to fuel spill in Port Orchard

By Curt Hart, Ecology Communications Manager, 360-480-7908 SEATTLE – The Washington Department of Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard, NRC Environmental Services and Ballard Diving & Salvage will work tomorrow to raise the Top Notch, an 85-foot boat that sank and spilled diesel fuel today inside the Railway Marina in Port Orchard in Kitsap County.Federal, state and private responders deployed oil

Ecology, Coast Guard and Railway Marina responding to sunken boat in Port Orchard

By Curt Hart, communications manager, 360-480-7908 (curt.hart@ecy.wa.gov)OLYMPIA – The state Department of Ecology, U.S. Coast Guard and Railway Marina are responding to a 85-foot boat that sank today at the Port Orchard marina in Kitsap County. The wood-hulled pleasure craft, Top Knot, has an unknown amount of diesel fuel on board. Railway Marina has hired a private cleanup contractor to help

Air Time: Burn bans start Saturday in 5 counties

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans will start Saturday (Dec. 3, 2011) in five Eastern Washington counties to protect residents from worsening air quality.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens counties takes effect at noon Saturday and will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday (Dec. 6). The bans could be called off or

Air Time: Air advisories issued for central, eastern Washington

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe National Weather Service is warning people that stagnant air will cause air pollution to build up during the next several days throughout central and eastern Washington.The agency’s Spokane office issued air stagnation advisories today for a period starting Friday and continuing through at least Monday morning.Smoke from outdoor