Environment
Environment

Sweeping Public Lands Bill Would Protect Washington Lands, Waters
The U.S. Senate Tuesday passed a sweeping public lands bill, with measures meant to protect lands across the country. It’s expected to have a big impact on Washington’s lands, rivers and more. Continue Reading Sweeping Public Lands Bill Would Protect Washington Lands, Waters

‘Hey Guys, How You Doin’?’ How Jay Inslee Introduces His Ambition Beyond Washington State
As Washington Gov. Jay Inslee inches closer to a likely run for president, he’s starting to sound more and more like a candidate on the stump than a two-term incumbent, even when addressing audiences at home. At a recent legislative forum in Olympia, Inslee recounted his first foray into politics 30 years ago and told the story behind one of his first votes as a freshman state lawmaker to extend unemployment benefits to migrant farm workers. Continue Reading ‘Hey Guys, How You Doin’?’ How Jay Inslee Introduces His Ambition Beyond Washington State

Your Questions About Plastic Waste, Answered
How can I find out if my plastic waste is really being recycled What makes some plastic recyclable and some not? Here are answers from the NPR correspondents working on “The Plastic Tide” series. Continue Reading Your Questions About Plastic Waste, Answered

Northwest Air Quality Agencies Oppose Possible Delay To Federal Wood Stove Compliance Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency set new clean-air standards four years ago for wood stove and hydronic heater manufacturers. These manufacturers were told that by 2020 they would have to sell off older models of stoves and heaters that did not meet the new standards that limit fine particulate matter. Now the EPA is proposing a two-year delay to that sell-by deadline. Continue Reading Northwest Air Quality Agencies Oppose Possible Delay To Federal Wood Stove Compliance Rules

Report: Global Warming Could Melt At Least A Third Of Himalayan Glaciers
If temperatures continue to rise, glaciers would begin to disappear, with a serious impact on the area’s water resources. Continue Reading Report: Global Warming Could Melt At Least A Third Of Himalayan Glaciers

Want Proof Climate Change Is Here? Look At Oregon In 2018, Report Says
Climate change is playing out in significant ways in Oregon, with evidence in the form of more severe wildfires, lower summer stream flows and diminishing winter snowpacks, according to the state’s fourth annual climate assessment report. Continue Reading Want Proof Climate Change Is Here? Look At Oregon In 2018, Report Says

There’s Arsenic And Lead In Many Brands Of Fruit Juice. Should You Be Concerned?
The consumer-advocacy organization Consumer Reports tested 45 fruit juices, including apple, grape and juice blends, and found that 21 of them had “concerning levels” of cadmium, arsenic and/or lead, according to a new report. Juice samples came from 24 national and private-label brands. Continue Reading There’s Arsenic And Lead In Many Brands Of Fruit Juice. Should You Be Concerned?

To Help Orcas Catch More Salmon, Washington Plans To Increase Spill At Dams
In an effort to help imperiled salmon, Washington officials are proposing more water be spilled at dams during fish migration. The hope is that this would also increase the amount of food for orcas in Puget Sound. Continue Reading To Help Orcas Catch More Salmon, Washington Plans To Increase Spill At Dams

So Far, El Niño Winter Brings Lessened Snowpack And Water Worries To Northwest
This warm El Niño winter in the region is worrying water managers and farmers. Many Washington and Oregon reservoirs aren’t filling up like they should, and snowpack levels are below average in many areas. Continue Reading So Far, El Niño Winter Brings Lessened Snowpack And Water Worries To Northwest

Columbia River Salmon Face Another (Previously Underestimated) Threat: Gulls
There are a lot of predators known to eat imperiled salmon, from sea lions to double-crested cormorants. For a long time, biologists thought gulls weren’t a big part of the problem. Now, they say that was a miscalculation. Continue Reading Columbia River Salmon Face Another (Previously Underestimated) Threat: Gulls

Oregon Bottle Deposit System Hits 90 Percent Redemption Rate
Oregon’s bottle deposit system is recycling more containers than ever before despite major disruptions in global recycling markets. Continue Reading Oregon Bottle Deposit System Hits 90 Percent Redemption Rate

Explainer: Feds Want To Reclassify Hanford Waste. What Does That Mean, And What’s At Stake?
A new proposal from the Trump administration could dramatically change the way the government cleans up radioactive tank waste at Hanford. What does that mean? Anna King explains. Continue Reading Explainer: Feds Want To Reclassify Hanford Waste. What Does That Mean, And What’s At Stake?