Environment
Environment
Hazardous Waste Landfill Near Columbia River Seeks To Expand
Military cleanups, federal Superfund sites, firefighter training facilities — all are among reasons cited by Chemical Waste Management, or CWM, to expand its hazardous waste operation outside the Columbia River town of Arlington. Continue Reading Hazardous Waste Landfill Near Columbia River Seeks To Expand
Once Imperiled, America’s Bald Eagle Populations Are Soaring
A new survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found there are more than 70,000 breeding pairs of the iconic raptor in the contiguous U.S. In the late 1960s, there were fewer than 500. Continue Reading Once Imperiled, America’s Bald Eagle Populations Are Soaring
‘Blue Tides’ Of Sailor Jellies On Northwest Coast Correlate With Warmer Seas In Winter
New research out of the University of Washington finds a correlation between warmer ocean waters and mass strandings of By-the-wind sailor jellyfish over the past two decades. The brief, widespread beachings of “gazillions” of purplish-blue jellies along the Pacific Northwest coast create a memorable sight for those who chance to be in the right place at the right time. Continue Reading ‘Blue Tides’ Of Sailor Jellies On Northwest Coast Correlate With Warmer Seas In Winter
Timber Wars Continued: Conservationists Sue To Save Spotted Owl Logging Protections
Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to preserve protections for 3.4 million acres of northern spotted owl habitat from the US-Canada border to northern California, the latest salvo in a legal battle over logging in federal old-growth forests that are key nesting grounds for the imperiled species. Continue Reading Timber Wars Continued: Conservationists Sue To Save Spotted Owl Logging Protections
Cascade Snowpack More Vulnerable To Climate Change Than Inland Neighbors, Study Suggests
Smaller, faster-melting snowpack could deplete water supplies, increase wildfire risk and invite invasive species. The Cascades might reach that point earlier. Continue Reading Cascade Snowpack More Vulnerable To Climate Change Than Inland Neighbors, Study Suggests
A Mixed Bag: Northwest’s Iconic Salmon Face Tough Conditions During Ocean Journey
Salmon survive best when the water is cooler along the coast and warmer farther out. Colder La Niña conditions have also led to higher salmon counts. Right now, that’s exactly what’s happening. But things will likely change over the summer. Continue Reading A Mixed Bag: Northwest’s Iconic Salmon Face Tough Conditions During Ocean Journey
Interior Department Moves To Make It Illegal (Again) To Accidentally Kill Migratory Birds
The Interior Department rescinded a controversial Trump-era legal opinion Monday that limited the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It also said it will soon propose a rule to replace one enacted at the end of the Trump administration that did the same. Continue Reading Interior Department Moves To Make It Illegal (Again) To Accidentally Kill Migratory Birds
The Secret Life Of Trees: Researchers Probe Methane In Washington’s Coastal Forests
Trees have a little secret you might not know about. Yes, they produce oxygen. Yes, they take in carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. But, they also emit methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas that can be significantly more potent than carbon dioxide. Continue Reading The Secret Life Of Trees: Researchers Probe Methane In Washington’s Coastal Forests
Wenatchee-Area Hydrogen Production Plant Signals Renewed Interest In Alternative Fuel
A public utility in north-central Washington broke ground Monday for a hydrogen production facility. It’s one of several related actions in the Northwest that reflect renewed interest in hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel. Continue Reading Wenatchee-Area Hydrogen Production Plant Signals Renewed Interest In Alternative Fuel
Northwest Wildlife Agencies Warn Of Newly Found Invasive Zebra Mussels
Washington state wildlife officials are working with pet store chains to stop the spread of aquarium products found to contain zebra mussels. A zebra mussel is a tiny shellfish native to the Black and Caspian Seas in Ukraine. But they’re now found all over the world, except in the Northwest. Continue Reading Northwest Wildlife Agencies Warn Of Newly Found Invasive Zebra Mussels
New Rule Allowing Hound Training For Cougar Tracking Highlights Wildlife-Human Challenges
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission recently approved a new rule that could soon grant George’s wish. But the rule is not without controversy. Many conservationists worry that training more hound handlers could put a strain on Washington’s cougar population and lead to catastrophic unintended consequences for the big cats. Continue Reading New Rule Allowing Hound Training For Cougar Tracking Highlights Wildlife-Human Challenges
Interior Nominee Deb Haaland Faces Tough Questions On Climate Goals
Congresswoman Deb Haaland would be not just the first Native American Interior Secretary, but also the first in a presidential cabinet. She faced tough — and, at times, misguided — questioning from Republican lawmakers worried about the president’s climate goals. Continue Reading Interior Nominee Deb Haaland Faces Tough Questions On Climate Goals
