Fred Hill Materials Inc., files for Chapter 11 reorganization

2/5 Peninsula Daily News–Fred Hill Materials Inc., files for Chapter 11 reorganization
Peninsula Daily News

Fred Hill Materials Inc., has filed for protection under Chapter 11 of U.S. bankruptcy laws.

Alex Hill, president and CEO of the Poulsbo family-based company, announced the move Friday, saying it follows the May closure of Westsound Bank.

The company will continue to deliver concrete products from its operations in Port Townsend, Sequim, Poulsbo, and Bremerton, Hill said in a statement.

“Chapter 11 is reorganization, not bankruptcy,” Hill said. “We are not closing, nor going anywhere.

More at
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100205/NEWS/100209994

New bill introduced : “Working for Clean Water” Priority for Environmental Groups

“Working for Clean Water” Bill Solves Water Pollution Problem While Creating Jobs
Bill is shared priority for environmental groups, labor, and local governments

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Today, Rep. Timm Ormsby (Spokane) and Sen. Ed Murray (Seattle) will introduce today an updated version of the Working for Clean Water bill aka the Clean Water Act of 2010. This new legislation provides a balanced solution in tough times for Washington’s families, local communities, and environment. This legislation will create thousands of jobs across the state.

This bill proposes an increase to the voter-approved Hazardous Substance tax to create jobs, provide temporary support to the state’s basic services through the general fund, and immediately addresses the state’s biggest water pollution problem: stormwater.

The Hazardous Substance tax was approved by Washington voters in 1987 (I-97) to clean up toxic pollution. It is levied on petroleum, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals: substances that are the most significant stormwater pollutants. Increasing the tax from 0.7 to 2 percent raises approximately an additional $225 million per year. The bulk of the dollars are allocated to the general fund in the near term and transition back to fund clean water projects over time.

Toxic pollution from stormwater runoff is Washington State’s biggest water quality problem. According to the Department of Ecology, over 14 million pounds of toxic pollutants wash into Puget Sound each year.

“Without stemming the flow of polluted stormwater, it will be near impossible for legislators to meet the state’s goal of restoring Puget Sound to health by 2020,” said Joan Crooks, Executive Director of Washington Environmental Council.

This bill will also spur thousands of construction jobs statewide to clean up pollution in stormwater. These infrastructure projects are shovel-ready in places like Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellingham, and Vancouver.

“This bill puts people back to work, helps our economy recover, and will leave a lasting legacy of a clean Puget Sound and Spokane River,” said Dave Johnson of the Washington State Building Trades Council.

The Federal Clean Water Act requires local governments to control stormwater pollution. Without a funding source, cities and counties depend on property taxes and utility rates to fund stormwater projects. Local governments spent a quarter of a billion dollars each year trying to control and clean up contaminated stormwater runoff.

Supporters of this proposal include the Environmental Priorities Coalition, Washington Association of Cities, Washington State Association of Counties, Washington State Labor Council, and Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council.

This bill is an updated version of HB 1614 and remains a 2010 Priority of the Environmental Priorities Coalition.

For more information, visit www.environmentalprioroties.org

Puget Sound Partnership issues 2009 State of the Sound Report

OLYMPIA – The Puget Sound Partnership has issued its first State of the Sound report noting the current condition of Puget Sound, funding allocated to clean up efforts, and accomplishments and challenges in the effort to clean up the Sound for the 2007-2009 biennium.

“We’re pleased to present the 2009 State of the Sound report,” said David Dicks, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership. ”The good news is we are making progress in our efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound. We have challenges ahead to meet our goal of achieving a clean Sound by 2020, but this report documents substantial improvements in the ecosystem.”

“It’s encouraging that even during these tough times we are continuing to make progress in Puget Sound cleanup. We have a long road ahead and more hurdles, but I’m confident our efforts are off to a good start,” said Governor Christine Gregoire. “I applaud the work of the Partnership and their many partner organizations for their hard work and commitment to restoring our natural jewel, Puget Sound.”

For the 2009 report, members of the Partnership’s Science Panel evaluated status indicators that represent each of the six goals in the Partnership’s authorizing statute: human health, human well-being, species and food webs, habitats, water quantity, and water quality.

Because the Puget Sound ecosystem is complex, it is not surprising that some parts of it may improve while others decline. Compared to historical conditions, the Puget Sound ecosystem shows signs of stress and degradation. Eight of the 20 indicators presented provide evidence of continuing decline in the Puget Sound ecosystem (fin fish harvest, conversion of forest land, orcas, herring spawning biomass, agricultural lands converted to development, eelgrass area, stream flows in major rivers, and flame retardant chemicals in harbor seals and herring), while seven indicators show evidence of improving conditions (shellfish harvest areas upgraded, increases in shellfish harvest, increases in Chinook salmon and Hood Canal summer chum run size, slight slowing in the rate of loss in forested land, improvement in sediment quality in Elliott Bay and improvement in freshwater quality. The remaining five indicators describe other dimensions of concern, but do not provide information about recent changes.

The report highlights several recent accomplishments that are important to Puget Sound recovery:

· a reopening of 1,309 acres of shellfish beds for commercial and recreational harvest;

· restoration of 3,800 acres of habitat;

· a 12 percent reduction in diesel emissions;

· a 22 percent reduction in mercury in waste streams;

· completion of the Phase I and II toxic loading studies that will help prioritize source control efforts;

· removal of 90 percent of the derelict fishing gear in Puget Sound;

· acceleration of projects needed to complete the removal of the Elwha Dam critical to salmon recovery;

· and, a permanent mechanism to maintain the emergency rescue tug at Neah Bay was created.

“Ecosystem performance evaluation and reporting is complex,” said David Dicks. “This daunting task of linking actions to improving overall ecosystem conditions has eluded many of the other large restoration efforts in places like the Chesapeake Bay and the Everglades. We have significant issues ahead of us, but we are on a path to make this work in Puget Sound and it will take a committed effort by the Partnership and its many partners to be successful.”

The Partnership is required to produce a State of the Sound report every two years. The statutory reporting requirements are to document the current status of the ecosystem, as well as status of implementation and funding. This information can be used to inform decisions about changes to funding, programs, or policies to accelerate the regional progress towards ecosystem recovery, including more efficient use of resources.

The Partnership effort and related reporting is different from prior efforts because of the 2020 end date for success, the inclusion of human health and well-being as part of the ecosystem, as well as the need to account for all state spending related to the Puget Sound. In addition, the Partnership must ensure that all actions taken were consistent with a science-based strategy, directed toward defined, measurable outcomes including those for people.

For the full text of the report, go to http://www.psp.wa.gov/sos2009.php

High tides inundating some areas…global warming comes home?

Christopher Dunagan reports on the latest extreme high tides and their effects on Kitsap and Mason counties. There has been a lot of worrying about the effects of global warming raising sea levels, which may be what’s going on here. Similar situations were reported on the east coast this summer. If this is the root cause of these higher tides, we have some expensive changes to our infrastructure out here. A lot of communities are just about at ‘normal’ traditional sea levels. A 3 to 5 foot rise could be problematic to say the least!

“…Twanoh State Park on Hood Canal was under water, near Belfair. Photos on the Kitsap web site by John Stokes.

Another opportunity to photograph high tides begins today, according to Ecology officials. For information about submitting photos to Ecology, go to the agency’s EcoNet blog.

Read more: http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2010/02/01/high-tides-inundate-many-shorelines-in-puget-sound/#ixzz0eMPwcqMa

Warmest January on Record for Seattle (and probably us too)

Weather you agree that this is global warming or not, the ramifications for our source of water, the snowpack of the Olympics, is worrisome. As the globe (or areas of the globe) warms, that means that our snow pack is not as low (in elevation), nor as deep. Water is probably going to continue to be a huge concern for the west, and us.
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The National Weather Service says last month was the warmest January on record in Seattle, an average of 47 degrees.

That was about a half-degree warmer than the old record set in 2006. Seattle records go back to 1891.

Forecasters say the average daily high at Sea-Tac Airport was nearly 52 degrees, about 6 degrees above normal. The average low was the month was about 43, about 7 degrees above normal.

Bellingham also had its warmest January on record, averaging 45 degrees. And Olympia had its second-warmest January, averaging nearly 44 degrees.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010948491_apwawarmjanuary.html?syndication=rss

Wetlands Day – An international event

From Michelle McConnell at Jefferson County- 1971: The same year our Washington Legislature passed the state’s Shoreline Management Act (SMA), a collection of countries from around the world gathered in Ramsar, Iran to sign a treaty called the Convention on Wetlands, in recognition of the importance of and risks posed to wetland ecosystems and to take action to protect wetlands. The USA joined the Convention in 1987 and February 2nd each year is World Wetlands Day to commemorate the Convention.

Today there are over 150 ‘member states’ participating with over 1,800 Wetlands of International Significance identified around the globe. The US has 26 sites – the nearest to us here in Jefferson County, WA is the Alaksan* site between Boundary Bay and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, just north of the border at the mouth of the Fraser River.

The Convention uses a broad definition of the types of wetlands covered in its mission, including swamps and marshes, lakes and rivers, wet grasslands and peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas and tidal flats, near-shore marine areas, mangroves and coral reefs, and human-made sites such as fish ponds, rice paddies, reservoirs, and salt pans.

Why protect wetlands?
· Wetlands provide fundamental ecological services and are regulators of water regimes and sources of biodiversity at all levels – species, genetic and ecosystem.
· Wetlands constitute a resource of great economic, scientific, cultural, and recreational value for the community.
· Wetlands play a vital role in climate change adaptation and mitigation.
· Progressive encroachment on, and loss of, wetlands cause serious and sometimes irreparable environmental damage to the provision of ecosystem services.
· Wetlands should be restored and rehabilitated, whenever possible.
· Wetlands should be conserved by ensuring their wise use.

Learn more at www.ramsar.org

Local WETLANDS
Based on Ramsar’s definition, consider the 500+ miles of local lake, river and marine shorelines here in Jefferson County under SMP jurisdiction with the array of marshes, estuaries and tidal flats. While there are certainly documented opportunities for restoration of damaged areas, we’re fortunate to be quite wealthy in wetlands. And while a formal assessment hasn’t been conducted, it seems our Locally Approved SMP is well aligned with the Convention’s mission of ‘conservation and wise use’. Sounds like the SMA’s target of balancing appropriate development and protection…

See where local wetlands are currently mapped in Maps 8 -10 of the Final Shoreline Inventory & Characterization Map Folio and with the Critical Area maps habitat layer on the County’s interactive mapping site jMAP.

*Alaksen. 24/05/82; British Columbia; 586 ha; 49º06’N 123º10’W. National Wildlife Area; Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The site forms part of the Fraser River delta, includes arable land and grassland containing scattered wetlands varying from fresh to brackish, and mud and sand flats supporting three main vegetation types. An important link in the chain of wetlands used by waterbirds migrating between Arctic breeding grounds and southern wintering grounds. Up to 40,000 geese of the Wrangel Island breeding population and up to one million other shorebirds stage and winter here. Up to 25,000 ducks occur in fall and 10,000 Melanitta perspicillata congregate to feed on the tidal flats in late summer. More than one million people live in the Fraser River valley. Ramsar site no. 243. Most recent RIS information: 2001.

Best regards,
Michelle

KUOW on Monday 1/25 – Kathy Fletcher and David Dicks on the State of the Sound

On January 25th, 2010, Kathy Fletcher of People For Puget Sound and David Dicks who heads the Puget Sound Partnership  were on KUOW Weekeday (94.9FM or http://kuow.org) discussing the state of the Sound and progress on its clean up. This is an excellent quick overview of the problems facing the Sound for the average person.

http://www.kuow.org/search.php?page=1&chSummaries=1&txtKeyWordSearch=david+dicks&sa.x=0&sa.y=0&sa=Search
This is where you can listen to this online.

Upcoming Winter High Tides: A Preview of Future Sea Level Rise

Climate Updates
Upcoming Winter High Tides: A Preview of Future Sea Level Rise
Seasonal high tides occurring throughout the region early next week will provide a preview of what the state might expect to see on a more regular basis as a result of rising sea levels.

The region experienced seasonal high tides in early January. At that time, we asked you to take photos and send them in to us. We got some great shots and a few are represented here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/ipa_hightide.htm. Thank you to all of you who responded!

Now we have another opportunity to document these seasonal high tides. Those of you who happen to photograph the high tide events February 1 – 3 are invited to submit your images to the Washington State Department of Ecology. We are interested in using these images to help document the coastal impacts our state is likely to face with increasing frequency as sea levels continue to rise.

Images can be submitted via email to ‘ecologyoutreach@ecy.wa.gov’ – along with the date, time, and detailed location information. Please provide contact information if you’d like us to send you a release form for future publication of your photos. For more information, visit the Washington Department of Ecology blog:
http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2010/01/grab-your-waders-and-your-camera-and.html

Groups urge state to triple tax on polluters to plug budget hole – Seattle Times

This is being posted because it includes a quote from Representative Lynn Kessler, of our district.
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1/27 Seattle Times
Groups urge state to triple tax on polluters to plug budget hole
By Jim Brunner
Seattle Times staff reporter -OLYMPIA
As state lawmakers search for ways to fill a $2.6 billion budget hole, environmentalists are dangling what they hope will be a tempting new tax idea.

They’re pushing to as much as triple the state’s “hazardous-substance tax” on petroleum, pesticides and other chemicals — an increase that could bring in an extra $250 million a year.

In the long run, the money would be dedicated to cleaning up polluted stormwater runoff contaminating Puget Sound and other waterways.

But to sweeten their prospects, environmental lobbyists are pitching the notion that the Legislature could use up to $150 million a year over the first few years to plug the state budget shortfall. Stormwater cleanup would get a larger share in future years.

More at
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010910892_oiltax28m.html

February 2 deadline to submit your thoughts on reuse of the Rayonier Mill site

Comments are due Tuesday, February 2 on HarborWorks Rayonier mill site reuse concepts. You can also submit your own concept. These concepts portend a heavy development footprint along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and further pollution, rather than restoration and protection.

The Olympic Environmental Council Coalition (OECC) supports the site be cleaned to “unrestricted levels” — levels fully protective of wildlife and humans; all manmade structures be removed; full restoration of the shoreline, Ennis Creek and wetlands; and the full site be developed for public access for use as park, recreation, area history, environmental education and art activities .

The OECC concept recognizes the harsh weather conditions of the area, the fact that it is in designated tsunami and flood zones, and thus believes open space with a very light development footprint is appropriate. As well, this is fitting with the Puget Sound Partnership cleanup goals — cleanup, restore and protect long term.

HarborWorks Concepts for Rayonier mill site reuse
Harborworks held a public meeting on January 11, 2010 at the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles and presented three (3) conceptual alternatives for redevelopment of the Rayonier mill site. Also provided was an update on the “due diligence” study (a full report to be released later) being done for the site, a summary of market conditions, and a status of contamination on the site as they know it to be. (Note: further investigation of the mill site contaminants is ongoing.)

View the Harborworks presentation at:
http://paharborworks.org/presentations/microsoft%20powerpoint%20-%20hw20100111-public%20meeting-compressed.pdf

The three conceptual alternatives presented at the meeting
alternative A
http://paharborworks.org/illustrations/alta20091215.pdf
alternative B
http://paharborworks.org/illustrations/altb20091215.pdf
alternative c

http://paharborworks.org/illustrations/altc20091215.pdf

Comment form: http://paharborworks.org/forms/hw20100111-commentform.pdf

mail it to:
Pt Angeles Harborworks, PO box 2609, Pt Angeles WA 98362 or Fax to : (360) 457-1054

If you can complete this form online, or just want to send your comments, email to “Elizabeth Duan”