Monday, 23 September 2013

WEB NOTICE: Well Logs is still unavailable

Ecology notification

We are experiencing technical difficulties with an application server and our Well Logs Database is currently unavailable.

We are working to restore this tool as quickly as possible.

For assistance with well log information, please see our Wells web page. An Ecology staff person in your region can do searches on our intranet site and send the results to you as an

Tacoma Smelter Plume: Sampling begins on southern Vashon-Maury Island and in north Tacoma

By Jill Jacobson, Yard Program Outreach Coordinator, Toxics Cleanup Program




















Ecology's
Residential Yard Sampling and Cleanup Program (Yard Program) has started soil sampling
in north Tacoma and on southern Vashon-Maury Island.


We are sampling residential yards for arsenic and lead
contamination from the former Tacoma Asarco smelter.




To find

Friday, 20 September 2013

Bottleworks shows manufacturing good for economy and the environment

by Ken Zarker, pollution prevention specialist, Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program




Tim Andis, president and CEO of Liberty Bottleworks, shows his company’s award to his local congressman, Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington’s 4th District.
Liberty Bottleworks of Union Gap, Washington, took top honors at
the 2013 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on

Thursday, 19 September 2013

Lake Spokane shoreline goes au natural

By Jamie Gardipe, Water Quality Program, Eastern Regional Office





Project partners include: Avista Corporation, Ecology, The Governor’s Office for Regulatory Innovation and Assistance, Lake Spokane Association, Stevens County Conservation District, and Spokane Conservation District.
Why replace bulkheads with natural shorelines? While bulkheads
can provide protection to property where they

WEB NOTICE: Several of our online applications are currently unavailable.

Ecology notification


We are experiencing technical difficulties with an application
server which have caused 4 applications to be unavailable. The affected online
tools are:


Well Logs Database
Online Permit Assistance System (OPAS)
Environmental Permit Handbook
Industrial Permits


In addition, our online Public Involvement Calendar has been experiencing
intermittent issues.

We are working

Monday, 16 September 2013

Garden Talk: Food Bank accepts flowers, too!

by: Marisol Novak, Garden Coordinator


Row of Marigolds lining the edges of the garden
Who doesn’t like the sight of towering sunflowers in the summer? This year, Ecology’s Food
Bank Garden accepted a generous donation of sunflower starts to brighten up the
fallow side of the field. The cheerful sunflowers not only dazzled those
passing on their lunchtime walks around the meadow, but the topic

Friday, 13 September 2013

Fecal Matters: Evergreen Park, Lions Field, and Lents Landing in Bremerton, WA are Open for Swimming

BEACH Program Update

Kitsap County -The Kitsap County Health District removed the no contact advisory signs at Evergreen Park, Lions Field, and Lents Landing.  Advisory signs were previously posted on September 6, 2013.

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

"Eyes Over Puget Sound" - September 11, 2013

By Sandy Howard, Environmental Assessment Program



A furry visitor takes a rest on the float plane. High
river flows lead to striking fronts of turquoise-colored water carrying
glacial flour in many northeastern regions. Satellite and aerial images
show widespread phytoplankton blooms in Whidbey Basin, Hood Canal, South Puget
Sound and West Bay of Orcas Island. We see lots of large debris

Thursday, 12 September 2013

Fecal Matters: Howarth Park and Pigeon Creek in Everett, WA are Open for Swimming

BEACH Program Update

Snohomish County - On September 9, 2013 the City of Everett's Public Works Department removed the swimming advisory signs at Howarth Park and Pigeon Creek.  Advisory signs were previously posted on August 29, 2013, due to a combined sewer overflow (CSO) caused by heavy rains.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper

New Video Emphasizes Why Salmon Are Important to Washington State

By Dustin Bilhimer, Water Quality Program


Photo Credit: Lloyd Moody


Earlier this year, the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office
(GSRO) published the 2012 State of
Salmon in Watersheds Report describing the importance of improving salmon
habitat, water
quality, and salmon populations in our state. GSRO
recently produced an excellent, 10-minute video titled “State of Salmon: Restoring a
Washington

Friday, 6 September 2013

Fecal Matters: Evergreen Park, Lions Field, and Lents Landing in Bremerton, WA are Closed

BEACH Program Update

On September 6, 2013, the Kitsap Public Health District issued a seven day no contact advisory for Evergreen Park, Lions Field, and Lents Landing. The advisory was issued due to heavy rains. The public is advised to avoid contact with the water until further notice.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory

Thursday, 5 September 2013

Fecal Matters: Water Recreation Safety Tips During Wet Weather!

BEACH Program Update

In Washington State, all good, nice, dry weather must come to an end. For those of you planning to hit the beach for one last dip, just remember a few health and safety tips!

Heavy rains typically raise the amount of bacteria in water bodies. The BEACH Program advises to avoid water contact 48-hours after a rain event.

When heavy rains hit the Pacific Northwest, the BEACH

Fecal Matters: Mukilteo Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, WA is Open for Swimming!

BEACH Program Update

The beach at Mukilteo Lighthouse Park located in the City of Mukilteo is now open for swimming! Additional marine water samples collected this week show bacteria concentrations have dropped to background levels. A swimming advisory was previously issued for this beach on Friday, August 30, 2013.

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

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Around the Sound: Planned projects benefit Port Gamble Bay

By Seth Preston, Communications Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program

Work to improve, restore and protect the Port Gamble Bay ecosystem is moving ahead.

The package of land purchases and environmental projects announced today (Sept. 4, 2013) is separate from planned cleanup work at the bay. But this package and that cleanup will be major boons for Port Gamble Bay, one of Ecology's high-priority bays

Fecal Matters: Beach at Jetty Island Park in Snohomish County is Open for Water Recreation

BEACH Program Update

Snohomish County - On August 31, 2013 the City of Everett's Public Works Department removed swimming advisory signs at Jetty Island Park.  Advisory signs were previously posted on August 29, 2013, due to a combined sewer overflow (CSO) caused by heavy rains. Howarth Park and Pigeon Creek remain closed to swimming until further notice.

Contact with fecal contaminated waters

Sunday, 1 September 2013

Fecal Matters: Evergreen Park, Lions Field and Lents Landing in Bremerton are Open for Swimming

BEACH Program Update

Today, the Kitsap Public Health District opened the beaches at Evergreen Park, Lions Field and Lents Landing. No contact advisories were previously posted on August 29, 2013, due to a nearby combined sewer overflow.

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

Fecal Matters: No Contact Advisory for Joel Pritchard Park and Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park, Bainbridge Island, WA

BEACH Program Update

On August 31, 2013, the Kitsap Public Health District issued a no contact advisory at Joel Pritchard Park and Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park on Bainbridge Island. The advisory was issued due to a nearby sewer line break. The public is advised to avoid contact with the water until further notice. 


Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin