Spill Log: All spills matter

By Dave Byers, Ecology Response Manager, Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response Program A fishing vessel owner has published his first-person view of Ecology’s response this past November to an oil spill from his fishing vessel at Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle. Here is our file about the incident.We have evaluated our regulatory responsibilities regarding this spill. We believe a warning

Air Time: Burn bans in Chelan, Douglas counties

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramBurn bans start at 4 p.m. today (Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012) in Chelan and Douglas counties, where air quality is expected to worsen this week, according to the Washington Department of Ecology.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Chelan and Douglas counties will continue until at least 10 a.m. Monday (Feb. 6), when they could be called off or

Ecology for Educators: upcoming workshops!

By Brook Beeler, Environmental Educator, Office of Communication and EducationDid you know? Ecology provides science-based, interdisciplinary environmental education curricula and award-winning materials. These quality environmental education resources teach problem solving and critical thinking for students. Ecology also has exceptional databases and research links. You can find links to

Conversations on Washington's future quality of life

By Ted Sturdevant, Ecology DirectorToday, I am launching a new Web page, "Conversations on Washington's Future". I am hoping it will help stimulate a statewide conversation about what quality of life means to the people of Washington in the 21st century.Most of us would agree that quality of life includes an economy in which we can all prosper, strong communities and a healthy environment. The

Water's Edge: New blog helps promote Green Shorelines

By Annette Frahm, Green Shorelines Outreach Coordinator for WRIA 8

To promote more salmon-friendly shorelines around Lakes Washington and Sammamish, an interagency team in the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) has started a Green Shorelines Blog.

The blog is aimed at local people but may be useful for other lake settings. It provides a platform for sharing case studies about

Cleaning Up: Thursday meeting focuses on Spokane-area site

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup ProgramWe’re inviting the public to come to a public meeting Thursday (Jan. 26, 2012) to learn about plans to clean up contamination at the Kaiser Trentwood Works site near Spokane.The site covers 512 acres along the north bank of the Spokane River over the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.Historic aluminum production operations and

Our Changing Climate: More about WA's shrinking glaciers

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe Peninsula Daily News recently published this article on melting glaciers in Olympic National Park.(Coincidentally, it was published right before last week’s big snow and ice storm.)You can find more here about the study and see some striking photos that show how much specific glaciers have melted off over the decades. The web page

Winter road treatments have environmental considerations

By Jani Gilbert and Sandy Howard

Every winter the phones at Ecology light up with questions about de-icers and anti-icers. Are they safe? Do they pollute? Is one product better than another?

Good questions, since nationwide we dump millions of tons of de-icing and traction materials onto our roadways every year.

"There is no black and white answer," said Mike Hepp of Ecology’s Spokane office.

Air Time: Kittitas County burn ban expires Saturday

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramA burn ban in Kittitas County will expire Saturday (Jan. 14, 2012) because forecasts show changing weather conditions will improve air quality there.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County will expire at 4 p.m. Saturday.During a Stage 1 ban, use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces)

Our Changing Climate: Mapping greenhouse gas emitters

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a map showing the largest single-source emitters of greenhouse gases in each state.The New York Times published this story about the map and what it shows.Check it out. Pretty interesting.For more information about greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, see the offerings on this

Air Time: Burn ban starts in Kittitas County

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramA burn ban starts at 4 p.m. today (Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012) for Kittitas County, where air quality is expected to worsen during the next few days.Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County will continue until at least 4 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 14), when it could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 ban applies to unnecessary use of

Free Auto Leaks Workshops: How to not be a drip (from your car, that is)

by Justine Asohmbom, Puget Sound educator


** NEW 2013 Workshops! for more information about FREE workshops see Don't Drip and Drive - Fix That Leak workshops (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/washington_waters/fixcarleaks.html) **

An oil leak in your car can be a frustrating thing, not to mention the fact that oil that drips onto driveways, parking lots and streets can find its way to our local creeks

Our Changing Climate: Mount Adams glaciers disappearing

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Air Quality ProgramOver the weekend, the Yakima Herald-Republic published this interesting article about how warming temperatures are melting glaciers on Mount Adams.The photo of Mount Adams is from the U.S. Geological Survey.For more information on Cascade Mountains glaciers, check out the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project from Nichols College in

Good News for the Environment

By Barbara MacGregor, Web Communications, LaceyWith all the water that’s been falling from the sky recently, it’s fitting that there’ve been a number of good news stories about water-related topics.For the third year in a row, Ecology invited folks to get their cameras and snap photos of the season’s unusually high tides. People in Australia, British Columbia, Oregon and other places are doing