Around the Sound: Irondale cleanup celebrated

By Michael Bergman, Public Involvement Coordinator


The photo, courtesy of Charlie Bermant of the Peninsula Daily News, shows Chimacum fourth-grader Fox Elder cutting the ribbon during the park celebration.
A spirited and concluding chapter was written on Jan. 24, 2013, for the former Irondale Iron and Steel cleanup site. Jefferson County officials, state agency representatives, members of

Air Time: What does that mean?

By Rod Tinnemore, Wood Stove Coordinator, Air Quality Program

Have you ever tried to buy something only to find that the sales person seems to speak a foreign language? If you don’t know the meaning of these words, it can be confusing and frustrating.

The world of wood heating can have this problem, too. Today let’s talk about a few wood-burning devices: wood stoves, fireplaces, masonry

Air Time: Kittitas Co. burn ban expires

The Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County expired as scheduled at 10 a.m. today (Monday, Jan. 28, 2013).
Ecology issued the ban on Jan. 25. A Stage 1 ban prohibits use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces) and all outdoor burning.

These activities may resume now. However, residents of areas where burn bans are called should think twice because smoke

Washington State’s Reported Toxic Releases Go Down Again in 2011

by Diane Fowler, Toxics Release Inventory Coordinator, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently posted its latest analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data. While the national data show a 9% (300 million pounds) increase in on-site releases for 2011, on-site releases in Washington have decreased 19% (3.5 million pounds).

Air Time: Ecology calls burn ban in Kittitas Co.

Ecology has issued a Stage 1 burn ban for Kittitas County because air quality has not improved as expected. The ban is effective immediately on Friday (Jan. 25, 2013).
Ecology’s Stage 1 burn ban will continue until at least 10 a.m. Monday (Jan. 28), when it could be called off or extended. The Stage 1 ban applies to the use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and

Public seminar on ocean acidification in Everett on Jan. 24

By Sandy Howard, communication manager, water quality and environmental assessment programs


Snohomish County residents wanting to learn more about ocean acidification are invited to a free seminar at the Everett Station January 24.

The event, hosted by the Snohomish County Marine Resources Committee (MRC), will feature presentations by three members of the Washington State Panel on Ocean

Air Time: Ecology ends Kittitas, Stevens burn bans

Burn Ban Update

Effective immediately, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has ended Stage 1 burn bans in Kittitas and Stevens counties.

The Stevens County ban, which took effect Saturday (Jan. 19, 2013) was scheduled to expire this morning (Jan. 22). The Kittitas County ban was issued Jan. 15. A Stage 1 ban prohibits use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves,

Air Time: Ecology calls immediate burn ban in Stevens Co.

Ecology has issued a Stage 1 burn ban in Stevens County. The ban takes effect immediately.

Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for Stevens County will continue until at least 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, when it could be extended or called off. A Stage 1 ban applies to the use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces) and to all outdoor burning.

Ecology’s

Eyes Over Puget Sound for Jan. 15

By Sandy Howard, communications manager, Environmental Assessment Program

Here are the most recent aerial photos of Puget Sound surface conditions taken on Jan. 15.

Our cover photograph this time shows the float plane sitting among a large concentration of jellyfish in Budd Inlet' Swantown Marina that winter day.

We saw a persisting pattern of colder and fresher water in Puget Sound.

Burn bans to end in 3 counties; still on in Kittitas County

Ecology will lift the Stage 1 burn ban in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013. The ban on outdoor burning and use of uncertified wood stoves remains in Kittitas County until further notice.

A Stage 1 ban applies to the use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces) and to all outdoor burning.

Ecology’s

Air Time: Burn Bans Matter

Burn bans in Washington State come in several forms. Bans on burning your wood stove are called health burn bans.Bans on burning outdoors during summer are called safety burn bans.

Health burn bans are called by air agencies that closely monitor air pollution levels and weather conditions.Many western states, including Washington, have periods of air stagnation in the winter.During these cold,

Parting Thoughts - Achieving Clean Water, Healthy Fish and a Strong Economy

by Ted Sturdevant, former Ecology director

In my final "Conversations on Washington's Future" message as Ecology's Director, I describe how the amount of Washington-caught fish that people eat affects Ecology's efforts to protect water quality, why more protective measures are needed, and why the issue has stirred so much debate.

While we have made considerable progress in reducing toxic

Air Time: Ecology calls burn bans in 4 counties

Today (Jan. 15, 2013) Ecology issued Stage 1 burn bans in Kittitas, Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties. The bans take effect immediately.

Ecology’s Stage 1 burn bans for those counties will continue until further notice. A Stage 1 ban applies to the use of uncertified wood-burning devices (including wood stoves, inserts and fireplaces) and to all outdoor burning.

Ecology’s burn bans do not

Proper care of your water well can be a matter of life and death

by Lynne Geller, Outreach and Communications, Water Resources Program

An 83-year-old woman in Waterville, Washington did not have a very merry Christmas this past year: she fell into a well on Christmas Eve and sat in cold water for 20 minutes before she was rescued.

Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident. As this blog goes to press, Ecology has learned of two more well-related

Air Time: Smoking Doesn't Make Cents

By Rod Tinnemore, Wood Stove Coordinator, Air Quality Program


The goal of every wood stove operator is to turn fuel into heat. For some, wood heat is an optional preference. If that’s you, please choose a heating option that is far less polluting, such as a natural gas furnace or a heat pump. For others, however, heating with wood is an economic necessity. No matter what your situation, a