Thursday, 29 November 2012

Air Time: Why all the fuss about wood smoke?

By Rod Tinnemore, Wood Stove Coordinator, Air Quality Program


Ah, the smell of wood smoke. It brings back memories of camp fires and family holiday gatherings for some. For others, it brings memories of trips to the hospital, of lungs burning for air and the sensation of drowning. But humanity has lived with fires for untold centuries so wood smoke must be “natural” and “healthy,” right?Arsenic

Fecal Matters: The Beaches at Dickman Mill Park & Jack Hyde Park in Tacoma are Open for Water Recreation

BEACH Program Update


Yesterday, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department opened the beaches at Dickman Mill Park and Jack Hyde Park on Ruston Way in Tacoma.  Water sampling results collected Monday, November 26th indicate low levels of bacteria. Beach closure signs were previously posted on November 20, 2012.

Visit the BEACH web site to find the latest results for these and other saltwater

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Fecal Matters: No Contact Advisory at Annapolis Public Beach, Kitsap County

BEACH Program Update

On November 19, 2012, the Kitsap County Health District issued a no-contact advisory at Annapolis Public Beach near Annapolis, WA due to a wastewater discharge that received primary treatment and disinfection, but bypassed secondary treatment. The wastewater treatment plant experienced a large amount of inflow from the recent rain resulting in this discharge. Kitsap Health

Fecal Matters: Combined Sewer Overflow Impacts Dyes Inlet, Port Washington Narrows and Sinclair Inlet, Kitsap County

BEACH Program Update

On November 19, 2012, combined sewer overflows of more than 100,000 gallons discharged into Port Washington and Sinclair Inlet. CSOs are a mixture of untreated sewage and storm water. As a result, the Kitsap County Health District issued a seven-day no contact advisory for all of Dyes Inlet, Port Washington Narrows, and Sinclair Inlet. Health District staff posted warning

Fecal Matters: City of Everett Sewage Spill and Combined Sewer Overflows

BEACH Program Update


On November 19, 2012, a City of Everett wastewater treatment outfall released an unknown volume of raw sewage near Forest Park due to heavy rainfall. The city is collecting water quality samples in the area and posting emergency signage to warn the public about this incident.

Today, the City of Everett experienced several combined sewer overflows (CSOs), notably a few

Fecal Matters: Beach Closure at Jack Hyde Park and Dickman Mill Park, Tacoma, WA

BEACH Program Update

Today, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued a beach closure at Jack Hyde Park and Dickman Mill Park, on Ruston Way in Tacoma, WA. Advisory signs were posted this morning due to sewage spill into Commencement Bay.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections and other illnesses. Children and the

Fecal Matters: Water Recreation Safety Tips During Heavy Rains!

BEACH Program Update

Attention beach goers! Some of you hard core Pacific North westerners may be hitting the water for some fun in the rain this holiday week. If you’re hearty and daring enough to endure the weather please remember a few health and safety concerns:

Heavy rains typically raise the amount of bacteria in water bodies, so be careful when you go near potential sources — such as

Monday, 19 November 2012

Boots on the Ground: Unexpected service in New York

First person accounts by WCC responderscompiled by Bridget Mason and Janna Sargent, Ecology Washington Conservation Corps



WCC Supervisors provide updates via smart phones and Skype™


A gymnasium serves as a makeshift shelter for displaced residents at Lehman College inBronx, NY



Nor'easter dumps snow andadds new challenges for responders



AmeriCorps members serve food and coffee to

Thursday, 8 November 2012

Fecal Matters: Richey Viewpoint Beach in West Seattle is Open for Water Recreation!

BEACH Program Update


Today, the Seattle-King County Public Health District opened the beach at Richey Viewpoint in West Seattle.  Beach closure signs were previously posted on October 31, 2012, due to a nearby sewage spill.

Visit the BEACH web site to find the latest results for these and other saltwater beaches: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/

Stay updated about water quality at

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Around the Sound: Work underway at the Rayonier Mill cleanup site

By Marian Abbett, Site Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program

Over the past few weeks, you may have noticed activity on the Rayonier Mill site. The City of Port Angeles (city) and Rayonier have begun work on the part of the city’s CSO project on the mill property.

About one mile of CSO pipeline trenches will be on the former mill property. Some soil and groundwater the city is finding on the former

Fecal Matters: No Contact Advisory Lifted for Port Washington Narrows Near Bremerton, WA

BEACH Program Update

Bremerton, WA - Port Washington Narrows in Kitsap County is open for water recreation. The Kitsap Public Health District removed the no-contact advisory signs November 8, previously posted on November 1, 2012.

Visit the BEACH web site to find the latest results for these and other saltwater beaches: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/beach/

Stay updated about water quality

Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Air Time: Just Don't Breathe

By Rod Tinnemore, Wood Stove Coordinator, Air Quality Program

Humans have always lived in an ocean of air. For the bulk of our history, we’ve never given a thought to our ability to take another breath. If there is a fire, the wind eventually blows the smoke so it “disappears” and we keep breathing. We put items into the flames and only ashes come out. Most of it “disappears.”It must be magic!

Sunday, 4 November 2012

Ecology, South King, Port of Seattle, Renton and Boeing fire departments responding to burning aviation gasoline spill in Federal Way

By Curt Hart, Spills Program

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), South King Fire & Rescue, Port of Seattle, Renton and Boeing fire departments are responding to a 9,000-gallon aviation gasoline spill that caught fire and is still burning just off U.S. Interstate 5 in Federal Way.

All traffic lanes on I-5 are open.

The fuel spill and fire occurred after a tanker truck owned by Lee &

Friday, 2 November 2012

Water’s Edge: Is your shoreline home or business in harm’s way?

by Curt Hart, communcations manager, Shorelines and Environmental Assistance Program

People have always been drawn to the water’s edge.

Hurricane Sandy’s devastation is a heartbreaking reminder that living near a lake, stream, river or Washington’s marine waters can come at the extreme cost of life and property. Knowing where erosion and high water may happen – and placing homes, roads, and

Thursday, 1 November 2012

Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps head east

by Joye Redfield-Wilder, communication manager, Central Regional Office



Photo of a WCC crew from 2011
Ecology’s Washington Conservation Corps sent 48 crewmembers to the East Coast to assist communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. They left on Halloween from Ellensburg and will arrive Saturday, Nov. 3, for a 30-day stint helping neighborhoods in New York and elsewhere on the Eastern Seaboard

Around the Sound: K Ply cleanup process and schedule

By Rebecca Lawson, Regional Section Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program

Ecology is entering into an agreed order (legal agreement) with the Port of Port Angeles (port) for the K Ply cleanup site (also known as PenPly or Peninsula Plywood). The agreed order requires the port to do an interim action (partial cleanup), investigate the site, and evaluate options for cleanup. Last week Ecology’s

Fecal Matters: No Contact Advisory Issued for Port Washington Narrows Near Bremerton, WA

BEACH Program Update

Today, Kitsap Public Health District issued a five-day no contact advisory for Port Washington Narrows between Point Herron and Tracyton near Bremerton, WA.

The closure includes Evergreen Rotary Park, Lent Landing Park and Lions Park.

The Health District posted signs warning the public not to enter the water or harvest shellfish.



The no-contact advisory is scheduled to

Toxics ban promotes innovative design, gives salmon a brake

By Ken Zarker, Ecology Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction

Like most people, I generally don’t spend a lot of time thinking about brake pads. Brakes are critical to our safety and vehicle performance. But it wasn’t until 2010 that I learned brake pads on our cars and trucks are a source of toxic chemical pollution. Every time we tap on the brakes, the resulting “brake dust” residue ends up on

Tacoma Smelter Plume: Fall park cleanups wrap up

By John Zinza, Field Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup Program






Dockton Park, Vashon Island
Fencing will remain until the grass is established
Just in time for the rainy season, park soil cleanup work wrapped up last week.  We cleaned up over two acres of play area, removing 2,846 cubic yards of contaminated soil—enough to fill 150 truck loads!
Parks completed:

Dottie Harper (Burien)
McMicken