Gutting of Federal Environmental Programs Accelerates

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo Wednesday that rescinded previous environmental justice programs within the Justice Department to “ensure that the Department engages in the even-handed administration of justice.”

For a comprehensive overview, see: Trump administration environmental justice removals cut across agencies – Government Executive

Also: EPA places more than 160 environmental justice employees on paid leave.

EPA places more than 160 environmental justice employees on paid leave | CNN Politics

The end of environmentalism is upon us. A full blown coup of the American Government is underway by a President only elected by 49% of the electorate in an election that witnessed the Presidential candidate saying publicly that some kind of fraud of the voting machines was in the works by Elon Musk, and over 50 mainly Democratic voting places in key swing states were hit by “bomb threats” that evacuated buildings as the votes were being counted.

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How to Find Climate Data and Science the Trump Administration Doesn’t Want You to See

Posted on February 15, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Eric Nost, University of Guelph, and Alejandro Paz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Information on the internet might seem like it’s there forever, but it’s only as permanent as people choose to make it. This is clear as the second Trump administration has taken steps to dismantle science agencies and remove data and websites they use to communicate with the public, especially regarding climate science.

We are researchers in a network called the Public Environmental Data Partners, a coalition of nonprofits, archivists, and researchers working to ensure that data remains available to the public.

In the first few weeks of Trump’s second term, at least a dozen climate and environmental justice tools were removed. Government websites also scrubbed terms like “climate change” and “resilience.”

Why government websites and data matter

The internet and access to data are crucial for innovation, research, and daily life. Climate scientists use NASA satellite data and NOAA weather records to understand changes in the Earth system and how to protect economies reliant on specific climates. Other researchers use census data alongside climate data to identify who is most affected by climate change. Every day, people visit government websites to understand how to protect themselves from hazards and to learn about climate change policies.

When data and tools are removed, the work of scientists, civil society organizations, and government officials can grind to a halt. Data generated by government scientists is vital, especially for state governments that rely on federal data to run environmental protection programs.

Removing data from websites also makes it harder for the public to participate in key democratic processes, such as commenting on regulatory changes. It also breeds mistrust in the government and science. Federal agencies have been providing climate data to the public for years, and removing this data deprives everyone of essential information.

Bye-bye data?

The first Trump administration removed discussions of climate change and climate policies from government websites. However, in research with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative, we didn’t find evidence that datasets were permanently deleted. The second Trump administration seems more aggressive, with more rapid removal of information.

In response, Public Environmental Data Partners have been archiving climate datasets, uploading copies to public repositories, and cataloging them to ensure they’re accessible if removed from government websites.

Maintaining tools for understanding climate change

The administration has targeted tools like dashboards that help visualize the social dimensions of climate change. For example, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool, which mapped marginalized communities expected to experience severe climate impacts, was taken offline after Trump’s first executive orders. The original data behind the tool is still available, but it’s harder to find and access. Because the tool was an open-source project, it’s being recreated by archivists.

Preserving websites for the future

Some webpages have gone offline, such as the 25-year-old Climate Change Center at the Department of Transportation. Other pages, like those on the EPA website, have had their “climate change” links removed, making it harder to find relevant information.

Thankfully, the End of Term Web Archive has captured snapshots of government websites, making them accessible through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. This initiative has been ongoing since 2008, capturing millions of government webpages for preservation.

If you’re concerned about missing climate change discussions on government websites, you can use the Wayback Machine to check past versions of pages.

What you can do

You can find archived climate and environmental justice datasets and tools on the Public Environmental Data Partners website. Other groups are archiving datasets linked to Data.gov and making them accessible in other locations.

Researchers are also uploading datasets to searchable repositories like OSF (Center for Open Science). If you’re worried that certain data might disappear, the MIT Libraries’ checklist provides steps on how you can help safeguard federal data.

Narrowing the knowledge sphere

It’s unclear how far the administration will push to remove or hide climate data, but it’s already clear that such actions are narrowing the public’s understanding of climate change, leaving communities and economies vulnerable. While data archiving can help preserve some of this information, there is no replacement for government research infrastructures that produce and share climate data.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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New Global Warming Research

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Rising temperatures are fueled, in part, by declining cloud cover — which could be a potential climate feedback loop. From Washington Post

Latest NASA data prior to Trump takeover.

“Two new studies offer a potential explanation: fewer clouds. And the decline in cloud cover, researchers say, could signal the start of a feedback loop that leads to more warming.”

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Escaped farmed salmon in Norway

Posted on February 11, 2025 by Al Bergstein

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/11/seafood-firm-bounty-escaped-salmon-norway

27,000 farm salmon have escaped from a netpen in Norway, and the company that owned it is paying a bounty for catching any and all of them. It’s interesting. They describe it as an ecological disaster. They never said that when they escaped here.

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No Turning Back Now

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Al Bergstein

“To get people to act, my hypothesis is, you need to reach them not just by convincing them to be good citizens and saying it’s good for the world to keep below 1.5 degrees, but showing how they individually will be impacted,” says Eltahir, who specializes on the study of regional climates, focusing on how climate change impacts the water cycle and frequency of extreme weather such as heat waves.

Los Angeles, Lahaina, Paradise and & Northern California, Southern Oregon fires, Northern British Columbia and Alberta fires, Asheville NC and the floods of last winter’s massive hurricane, Europe’s fires across Spain, Portugal & Greece. All of this happened since we passed 1 Degree C. None of this is “normal” or something we have seen before. We are now over the “tipping point” and in uncharted lands. All we can do is do our best to prepare for what’s coming and help those impacted. Because we may be next. The same kind of wet winter that Southern California had last winter, is what is anticipated for us this winter. Meaning far more underbrush and fuel to burn if the summer is drier than usual. Let’s hope not. It’s time to wake up to the threat. Now.

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The End of Environmentalism

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Al Bergstein

“Some of them were dreamers, some of them were fools, and for some of them it was only the moment that mattered. 

Some of them were angry 
At the way the earth was abused 
By the men who learned how to forge her beauty into power 
And they struggled to protect her from them 
Only to be confused 
By the magnitude of her fury in the final hour.” 

Jackson Brown – Before The Deluge

In 2013, Canadian environmental leader David Suzuki wrote, “Environmentalism has failed”. I chastised him in a post at that time. But now, finally, I agree. 

“Many of the battles that we fought 30 or 35 years ago, that we celebrated as enormous successes . . . Thirty-five years later, the same damn battles have started again. That’s where I think we failed,” Suzuki says. “We fundamentally failed to use those battles to get that awareness, to shift the paradigm. And that’s been the failure of environmentalism.” 

The loss of this Presidential election and the fall of the Senate and the Supreme Court means a group of far right wing Christian Nationalist politicians are about to enact the playbook of Project 2025. It will kill any chance of reaching international goals for slowing global warming. They plan to pack the courts with right wing ideologues. They are putting anti-science people in charge of our scientific crown jewels. They are planning on defunding or dismantling our federal agencies that protect our water, air and soil. We are heading into uncharted territory with a madman as captain of the ship, icebergs ahead and a crew that is pouring it on while stuffing their pockets with their profits, as we all speed towards disaster. Some are even building spaceships on the side to take them away permanently and leave us to perish here on our own.

The people who voted for him want simple solutions to simple problems they face, the cost of food, gas, electricity and housing. Germans and Italians did too when they voted in Mussolini in the 20s and accepted the Nazi takeover of Germany in ’32. Twenty years later Mussolini was hanging upside down with his throat cut and Hitler committed suicide in the ruins of his capital with tens of millions dead. What fate awaits us and our insane leaders is about to be played out in real time. It’s no time for trying to restore a river, just so the logging industry can clearcut all the forests around it. Restoration work has been an ongoing palliative for those unwilling to continue to fight for protection. Now we will see the price we pay for not getting to the core of the issues facing us.

The hope of fighting for environmental protection is over and by the time we have another opportunity to fix it, only lifeboats will be available.

This blog has attempted to document the local efforts to protect our Peninsula from the greed that drives those who would pillage it for profit. But it’s time to admit defeat, with the national narrative now driven by Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and the Heritage Foundation. Then there is the local narrative of the businesses this blog has called out for their greenwashing while they destroy our habitat. They filled our local environmental entities while the members sat by and did nothing. They now will be given carte blanche to plunder our shores. It’s clear we need a different set of strategies, tactics and leaders. Our west coast “Blue Wall” will not hold against a sea change in national laws and the packing of our court systems like every dictator does around the world. Make no mistake, the Republicans intend to continue to do just that. We will have nowhere to turn to sue for protection. 

I don’t blame the ill informed voters who voted for Trump. The rise of AirBnB and the notion of turning our homes into investments for quick profit has left an entire generation of people unable to afford housing, from Port Townsend to Barcelona. This was allowed by both Democrats and Republicans, socialists and nationalists everywhere and we have sat back and witnessed this happening. Our schools have been gutted by not teaching democracy since the 1970s, a tactic outlined first by Justice Rehnquist when he was working for Nixon. The current fad of attacking any teacher who attempts to teach anything the right or the left find offensive has silenced many. The insanity of the mobs is always about righteousness. What we witnessed in colleges this year with the Gaza protests was more of this insanity. All of this behavior was allowed by Democrats, Republicans and school administrators with no real consequences for anyone.

Our political leaders of both parties raced to offshore industries in the 1990s to the lowest cost country possible, cheered on by the MBA schools. What happened to the people all over this country that watched their jobs vanish? This year, the Democratic leadership and their political consultants failed to convince those voters of the turnaround to the economy that they created since they took office during a pandemic fiasco made worse by Trump’s ignorance. “It is the economy, stupid”, as James Carville & Bill Clinton famously stated. And then there is the raw, unsettling fact that many Americans are racist and or misogynistic at their core.

Add to that vile mix, Biden’s inability to see his own failings after promising to be a one term President, like many elderly men in power, created a fire drill at the last moment, rather than an orderly attempt to find the candidate whom the people wanted. Maybe it would have been Kamala. Maybe not. Kamala did her best, but look towards those political consultants who told her to avoid discussions of the issues like the border and directly confronting the pocketbook issues of the lower middle classes, instead of some future “pie in the sky by and by” dream of tax breaks or home loans. As stated by numerous “man in the street” interviews this year, people are living paycheck to paycheck in most of the places that shifted from Trump to Biden and back to Trump. They are looking for help. They will abandon any politician who doesn’t give it to them. 

We now head into a world where there will be no protection or FEMA for the vulnerable from the increasingly powerful weather patterns that have created hurricanes like we have witnessed in the Southeast US, the massive fires in the west, or the heat waves that grow stronger every year. They will be kept in ignorance of the science until it literally falls on their heads. With America’s leadership and legal system gone, and China, Russia and India plunging ahead with no guardrails towards unprecedented global warming, I just don’t see a way forward that makes sense. 

An example is fossil fuels. While so many of us have called for the move to get us off of fossil fuels to save the planet, the ugly reality is that under Biden, we have continued to ramp up fossil fuel drilling and use. The right wing media said Harris would end fracking, especially in Pennsylvania. But she and Biden had accelerated it. Trump plans to open the drilling even further and transfer our public lands to the plunderers. 

My job here is done. The news is bad, going to get worse and I don’t want to simply be another news outlet reporting on the vultures picking over the corpse of the planet. I think the time has come to fight for saving whatever it is we are going to save of this Democracy, if it is even possible to save it. I sincerely hope it is, but I think the next four years will be the moment of truth. If I find anything of a positive nature, I’ll post here for you, but I don’t expect to be doing much of that going forward. I’ll leave the blog up for historical purposes. Something to remind future generations, that we did really try, but failed. 

The thing to remember is the planet really doesn’t care about us. It was functioning fine for billions of years before we showed up, and will continue long after we have gone and our legacy of destruction is just a vein of rock wedged between two other layers. Our job was simply to understand the environment and work with it to protect ourselves from the worst of its power. We have failed. In the meantime, gather the tools needed to survive what’s ahead, take care of your friends and loved ones, and resist the fascists who are about to take over, or leave the country. I really can’t blame one for abandoning this very unUnited States to its fate. Hopefully we will avoid ending like Rome, thrown into a dark age of religious fanaticism. But the Barbarians are at the gates and they are our own people. Unfortunately, this time, there is no place on the planet left to hide. To those who are about to undertake the final destruction of our environment to benefit “the economy”, let me remind you, “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment. No environment, no economy.”

Lastly, as Douglas Adams so eloquently said, “Thanks for the fish.” 

Over and out.

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Voting Guide for 2024

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Al Bergstein

In following the politics of this crazy year, here is my pics for both environmental and other races as I see it in the state.

President of the United States: Kamala Harris

Once again, we are faced with the anti-environmental insanity of Donald Trump. Donald Trump appears to be mentally unfit for the job as well as someone who has been convicted of over 30 crimes many of them serious against our country. A man who does not believe in climate change, and is working under the Project 2025 guidance that will remove scientific people in the government and replace them with his personal hacks, remove all climate change references in government documents and close down major scientific efforts to monitor it. No one should be voting for Donald Trump no matter what you think of Kamala Harris. She will be a vastly better president and already has shown what she’s capable of by passing legislation during the Biden administration, called the infrastructure bill, which is and has provided jobs for hundreds of thousands of people including blue collar jobs across this country and put infrastructure projects in play in our community as well as all over the United State. She has proven herself a supporter of all of us.

Governor of Washington State: Bob Ferguson

If anyone has ever shown himself to be a supporter of the citizens of the state, it is Attorney General Bob Ferguson. He fought the Trump administration to a standstill as it tried to bend the constitution to its will over and over again. Bob has done the right thing for us, the people. While his opponent is an honorable Republican, it is unfortunate that he’s not running as an independent to clearly remove himself from the stain of the MAGA insanity that is today’s Republican party. Bob Ferguson has fought for the environmental protection of our state, in such well-known battles as forcing the United States Navy on Whidbey Island to deal with their noise issues. We need him in the governor’s role.

State Representative District 24 -Adam Bernbaum

Adam has a number of years of experience here on the Peninsula working as a field organizer for Derek Kilmer and also as an aide to State Senator Kevin de Wege. He knows his way around Olympia’s halls of power. He is Washingtonian, he comes out of a union family, he’s a graduate at the University of Washington and has pledged to work hard for environmental issues along with healthcare and housing priorities. He is supported by a lot of good organizations. Adam has on many elections knocked on doors all over the two counties for the candidates he worked for and supporters. He knows the electorate. His opponent is too focused solely on criminal justice issues.

U.S. 6th Congressional District: Emily Randall

Emily is a newcomer to running in our district, but she’s not new to politics. She’s highly regarded. solid support for union and LGBTQ issues. While I don’t always support all union positions, they do run the Democratic Party, and any politician running needs their support. I have no problem voting for Emily and expect good things from her. She has convinced the local Democratic Party she is the right choice.

Commissioner of Public Lands: Dave UptheGrove

A long time environmental leader in the state legislature and recently in King County politics. His opponent wants to turn over old growth logging to the logging industry.

State Senator Dist 24: Mike Chapman

Long time local political leader. Worth returning to office. Votes to support environmental legislation. No debate on this choice at all. Mike is a leader and listens. Easily accessible to anyone wanting to have him hear them out on issues.

State Representative Position 2: Steve Tharinger

Steve is one of the best people we have had in the State House. He has fought for healthcare and environmental legislation over and over again. He helps craft the State Budget. This appears to be his last election. Let’s send him back.

Jefferson County Commissioners:

Heather Dudley-Nollette and Heidi Eisenhower

Heidi is running unopposed for good reason. Heather has a good challenger for her position, but her long time work in this county and in Port Townsend has shown her to be a local leader worth supporting. She brings small business background, has worked a lot on the receiving end of the County’s problematic building permitting process. It’s my belief that she will bring a more realistic approach based on having to deal with the actual issues that many of us face. So many politicians we have had in this county have never run a business and its attendant issues of payroll, hiring, taxes and reporting. She has also raised a family here, been involved in school issues, also has been deeply involved in issues of housing and homelessness, our local theater, and co-founded & ran the well respected Co-Lab in Port Townsend. I support her without hesitation.

Initiative I-2117 – NO

The Seattle Times has a good analysis of why you should vote no, on I-2117. I agree with their point of view. This initiative was backed and paid for by a right-wing hedge fund manager who opposes climate change protection. Climate change is here, now. Increasingly devasting wildfires, streams getting so hot that our beloved salmon cannot spawn anymore, and on and on. These affect us all. It is what government is supposed to do for it’s citizens. We need to continue to work to strengthen our efforts to protect *all* citizens from the changes happening and escalating in our state. Vote No.

Initiative I-2109 – NO

Keep the Capital Gains tax. This should be a no brainer. Washington unfortunately has the most regressive tax system in the nation, with low income people paying a much greater share of their income than the wealthiest. It is why our logging of state owned lands is needed at all, which has been an environmental nightmare. This Capital Gains tax, paid by those making huge gains in *non earned income* (think huge gains in stock market investments or property value increase) not the pay you make at a job. This should stay in place if not have even better methods of taxing the wealthiest. Even Bill Gates supports paying more in taxes for his capital gains! Again, the Seattle Times has a good argument about why you should vote no.

Initiative I-2066 – No

This is a tricky one. Over the last 30 years, the public has been fed a huge media blitz to convince us that by moving to natural gas to get off coal power, would be an *environmental benefit*. Their PR firms constantly talked up how environmentally friendly natural gas was, both in its refining and its greenhouse gas emissions. A number of environmental organizations also supported the idea. Of course, it is a great product for getting off a coal fired plant, as was done in Chehalis, but to put it into every household as gas heat, gas stoves and other gas appliances, is not a great idea. Methane, given off by natural gas, is very bad for human health, the environment and global warming (search Google for the melting of the artic for a reason). Fracking, which is how we are getting a lot of this gas, is an environmental nightmare that pollutes our water with their wastewater. While we do not have the electrical capacity today to support going all electric at the present, only 10% of Washington total emissions is in gas. Washington law already guarantees energy choice and allows people to have natural gas if they want it.

Opponents make the argument that I-2066 would prohibit penalties for using natural gas in construction, limit the ability of building codes to discourage the use of natural gas, and keep utility officials from making planning decisions that make natural gas cost-prohibitive. 

Initiative supporters have branded it a “ban” on natural gas bans. (see KUOW article below)

They are supported by over 200 organizations and many city governments.

The Washington Building Industry Association and the trade organization representing restaurants opposes the implementation of the bill and has sponsored I-2066. It seems, on the surface, like a worthwhile idea to pass I-2066 and go back to the drawing board and come up with a longer-term bill that industry and the public can approve. However, this initiative, backed by the oil and gas industry seems like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

By the way, I replaced my gas stove and gas water heater (an old model from the 90s) this year, so my electric bill is definitely higher, but no longer need gas in our house (other than a rare use in our gas fireplace, maybe a couple of times a year). And if we went solar it would be better yet.

The Seattle Times argument in favor of passage is here.

An overview of why to vote no is here.

The list of organizations and supporters to say NO is huge.

Initiative 2124 – No

Rolling back the Washingtons’ Long Term Healthcare Insurance program. While the current bill is not perfect, this initiative is not the answer. Let’s fix the bill.

The No coalition is made up of MS Society, AARP, Washington State Nurses Association, The League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood, and the Leukemia Society, plus many others. Need we say more?

Superintendent of Public Education: Chris Reykdal.

I am supporting Chris Reichel, even though I feel that he has totally failed to do his job as superintendent of public education. If there was a way to replace him without the voter box, I would be totally in favor of it. If there was ever a year that I would recommend voting for a Republican, this is it. But unfortunately, the Republicans are running a Maga person who wants to close down our universities and supports biblical teaching in public schools. There is a move afoot to make the superintendent role a cabinet level position and take it out of being a voted-on position. I would support that move it with the next governor.

Lieutenant Governor: Denny Heck

Solid leadership by Heck.

Attorney General: Nick Brown

Secretary of State: Steve Hobbs

U.S. Senate: Maria Cantwell

I am not a fan of Maria Cantwell, she is far too much a blind supporter of military spending , but she’s done a decent job of supporting the right side of environmental issues over the last number of years in the Senate. She’s a reliable choice, though I think we could easily do better. However, the Republican choice is vastly worse.

Secretary of State: Dean Hobbs

State Treasurer: Mike Pellicciotti

State Auditor: Pat McCarthy

Supreme Court Position 2: Sal Mungia

Sal is one of the most highly respected jurists in the state. A no brainer vote.

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Energy & Climate Resilience Summit – October 29 & 30, 2024

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Date: Tuesday, October 29 – Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Location: 7 Cedars Hotel & Conference Center in Blyn, Washington 

Time: 9am-5pm with a networking reception to follow on Tuesday. A special hotel room rate will be offered, with a booking link provided in the invitation (coming soon).

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Dabob Bay conservation area expands by nearly 4,000 acres

Posted on October 6, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Peter Bahls and his organization the NW Watershed Institute, have pulled off another successful land transfer that they’ve been working on for years in the waning days of public lands commissioner Hilary Franz’ administration. But the agreement may also find itself strapped for funds if the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is reversed in the next election or a Republican takes office to replace Franz. Your vote is important to passing this . Our website is supporting King County Commissioner and former State Representative Dave Upthegrove as the next land commissioner because of issues such as this.

QUILCENE — The Dabob Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area has been expanded by 3,943 acres to include more than 11,000 acres around the bay.

Hillary Franz, the state Commissioner of Public Lands, signed an order on Sept. 23.

“Dabob Bay is a unique and special landscape, and I am incredibly happy to protect and preserve public lands there so that future generations get to enjoy its beauty and ecological importance,” Franz said. “This further expansion is a testament to years of hard work from stakeholders and staff to find a solution that protects these rare ecosystems while still supporting local services in east Jefferson County.”

To read the whole story, go to:

https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/dabob-bay-conservation-area-expands-by-nearly-4000-acres/

support local journalism subscribe to the Peninsula Daily News.

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UW program works with tribes to fight toxins behind shellfish harvesting closures – Seattle Times

Posted on August 25, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Shellfish poisoning is a very real and serious issue for those who love to clam on Washington and Oregon beaches. Better monitoring and notification is key.

With coastal tribes heavily affected by harvesting closures, a Forks-based University of Washington program is partnering with Washington tribes to bolster responses to crises and improve monitoring methods. The collaboration involves hands-on training and research to develop tests that provide advance warning of harmful toxins.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/uw-program-works-with-tribes-to-fight-toxins-behind-shellfish-harvesting-closures

Subscribe to the Seattle Times and support local journalism.

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A view from the beach

Posted on August 11, 2024 by Al Bergstein

This was a comment posted on our last blog entry. It’s by landowner/beachowner Katherine Knight. I thought it worth a post of its own. Well worth a read. Katherine lives directly adjacent to a geoduck farm.

“Do the citizens of this state want massive areas of our salt water beaches to become slick brown mud flats for the future while a small number of people (and the State) bring an end to the natural salt water beaches (fish nurseries) being rapidly destroyed.?


I live on a small estuary (Zangle Cove) north of Olympia. This is an estuary that used to be rich in crabs. Both the estuary and the open bay called Dana Passage. WDFW allowed the crabs to be totally “fished out” about 5 years ago. Now no crab….not even an allowed limited number of pots.

Our sand and gravel beach is now totally devoid of little necks, butter clams…….or any other species of shell fish. Not even the sand dollars, moon shells or cockles my children found a very few years ago back to the 1950s The ecology of the shore has changed. Now one only finds grayish broken shells from some years ago. I live directly adjacent to a geoduck farm. All tides circle over this mud patch.


Our adjacent neighbors on a Cove fought the County and the Hearing Examiner but……money wins and we did no have enough to continue the legal fight against this commercial monster nearly at our front yard. At low tide it IS our front yard.

We shoreline homeowners paid for the sewer system about 25 years ago (or more) to have our land and beaches clean on the shore and adjacent waters. We created the great climate for kayakers, other boaters, swimmers and citizen users. The commercial (shellfish) dealers took advantage of our generosity in providing a clean estuary and beach on a smallish cove.

I am not a writer to discuss the science but I know no agency will come to do some research. I just express my shock and anger about what the commercial shellfish industry does to people who in our area who pay the highest taxes, pay for a …sewer system, and then are dissed at the hearings which we try to get attention to the damage these farms do to the local, regional areas which are adjacent to the commercial farms. From effecting a small area, eventually it impacts the larger land. By the time anyone gets wise, it will take years for restoration if that happens at all.”

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Tribe poised to co-manage Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

Posted on August 10, 2024 by Al Bergstein

In a move that comes as environmentalists sue the Department of Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) for not doing a “compatibility determination” on potential impacts to allowing an industrial aquaculture farm (run for profit by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe), FWS appears ready to ink an agreement to co-manage the Wildlife Refuge with the tribe.

Does it make sense for an entity that seeks to financially profit from the use of a federal resource, to be given co-management powers of that resource?

While this blog recognizes the importance of the work that the Jamestown have done for environmental restoration projects on the north Olympic Peninsula, there has been sustained concern from environmental watchdogs about the idea of turning the waters of the refuge into an industrial site, with subsequent conversion of the benthic layer and the waters above it into essentially a shellfish farm. Once this is done, there is no returning it to the way it is, as the profit motive will make it virtually impossible to end the work, as we have seen across the south Sound as shellfish aquaculture has turned numerous virgin bays into net covered shores with diesel engines dredging the geoduck farms at all hours of the night (low tides usually are late at night in the winter when harvesting would be easiest).

It is worth noting that the Refuge was established with the following goals, delineated on the front page of its web site:

Recognizing the importance of the fertile habitats, President Woodrow Wilson established the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge on January 20, 1915, as a refuge, preserve, and breeding ground for native birds. Many of these birds feed by diving into the shallows for fish. Today the graceful arc of Dungeness Spit continues to protect nutrient-rich tide flats for migrating shorebirds in spring and fall; a quiet bay with calm waters for wintering waterfowl; an isolated beach for harbor seals and their pups; and abundant eelgrass beds for young salmon and steelhead nurseries.

Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge | Visit Us – Activities | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

It is hard to understand how commercial shellfish aquaculture could coexist into preserving native birds who dive into these same waters to feed. Currently the FWS bans even frisbees or kites on the spit as it apparently is not good for the birds. There is a long list of banned behavior that seems innocuous elsewhere.

In 2018, this blog reported on the concerns that were being raised by the staff of the refuge itself, in it, we reported that the applicants have asked for permission to place approx. 150,000 of “on bottom” oyster bags on the central west side of the bay, in approximately 34 acres of the tide flats 1141 acres of the inner spit. While I understand that current numbers of this amount are not at these levels, the long-term goal of this number likely has not changed. This is not the small scale subsistence aquaculture that currently exists in Sequim Bay by tribal members. This will require machinery, boats and staff to harvest these amounts. This could be viewed as the proverbial “camel nose in the tent” which likely will be expanded over time with very little discussion. The applicants propose to raise non-native oysters. To be clear, a significant number of cultivated oysters in the Salish Sea are non-native, so this was not a surprise, nor is it an issue of great concern.

Also noted in that earlier blog entry, as stated by the Department of Interior letter, “The shores and tidelands in this area provide some of the most important wildlife habitat and supports the highest density of waterfowl and shorebirds within the refuge….These shorelines also support one of the largest Brandt haul out sites in the state of Washington….Shorebird densities are highest within the action area and the adjacent lagoon on Graveyard Spit.”

“Human-caused wildlife disturbance and habitat loss are two of the most pervasive threats to shorebird and waterfowl use of the Salish Sea…. very little information is available on entrapment resulting from aquaculture structures.”

The letter also referenced that, “In 2016, a die-off of approximately 1000 Rhinoceros Auklets on Protection Island coincided with a significant reduction in the abundance of sand lance in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.” 

Herring also spawn at the west end of Dungeness Harbor and the Department of Interior raised questions about protecting Strait of Juan de Fuca herring, which have been designated “critical” (as in critically low).  Sand Lance and Surf Smelt spawning grounds are also found in the area of the application. These species have been identified as “Washington Species of Greatest Conservation Need within the State Wildlife Action Plan (WDFW 2015).” A worry related to this is that these spawning fish will be competing with the oysters for plankton. A failure to find enough food could lead to a significant reduction in the survival rates. There is no known mitigation for this, other than limiting the size and scope of the project.

Additionally, Interior pointed out that a 1996 scientific study found that some shorebirds significantly avoided areas used for aquaculture in a California bay.

This shoreline has also been designated “Natural” in the Critical Areas Ordinance, as far back as 1976. That designation limits activities to those that preserve the national features unchanged. One would assume that the tidelands are also part of that designation. But of course, the waters of the Wildlife Reserve are apparently not part of the county shoreline ordinance.

It is important to note that the applicants themselves have noted in a 2003 report that “wild birds are the second most important source of FC on a year-round basis. It is especially important in winter, when their load approaches 1/2 of the measured marine water input.” It would seem to the average person that putting aquaculture into a bird reserve is by its very nature going to create a tension between the animals that are present and creating the problem and the desire to harvest shellfish for profit.

It is certainly reasonable for the applicants to want to return to aquaculture in the Bay, however the scale is being significantly increased. And now the applicants themselves are being given co-management of the very location that they intend to make a commercial farm. If it wasn’t the Tribe but some standard for-profit company, I’m sure that every environmental organization in the country would be joining in to stop this, but since it is the Tribe, only a couple of environmental organizations have been bold enough to challenge the FWS in court. And they appear to be winning. Years ago, I had a drink with the head of the Western Region of NOAA. I asked him why they kept doing things that required environmental groups to sue them, and why they just didn’t do the right thing to begin with. He laughed and told me that NOAA was a big government organization and had many different perspectives inside it. He welcomed lawsuits that forced them to do the right thing as he couldn’t possibly hope that all his employees were in line with its goals.

The FWS has a problematic role with regards to the Refuge. According to a 2022 article written by Kevin Washburn and N. William Hines, Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Iowa College of Law:

“The congressional direction in the Fish and Wildlife Act is to ensure “the fish, shellfish, and wildlife
resources of the Nation make a material contribution to our national economy and food supply . . . [and] the health, recreation, and well-being of our citizens.”

Congress recognized “that such resources are a living, renewable form of national wealth that is capable of being maintained and greatly increased with proper management, but equally capable of destruction if neglected or unwisely exploited.” (emphasis mine)

As a practical matter, however, one of the most significant challenges for FWS is meeting the
significant demands of the Endangered Species Act.”

The co-management of the reserve can only legally include the following:

“…Endangered Species Programs, Education Programs, Environmental Contaminants Programs, Wetland and Habitat Conservation Restoration, Fish Hatchery Operations, and National Wildlife Refuge Operation and Maintenance. See List of Programs Eligible for Inclusion in Funding Agreements Negotiated with Self-governance Tribes by Interior Bureaus Other than the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Fiscal
Year 2016. Microsoft Word – [14] Washburn – Camera-Ready (case.edu)

The rather ill defined “Northwest Wildlife refuge operations…” in the above paragraph is a concern. The document referenced above goes into considerable detail on the issues raised in co-management of FWS and other agencies. It is beyond the scope of this blog to identify all of them.

Science has learned a lot about the environment since the time when the State originally allowed the use in this location. In many other locations we have decided that the tradeoff of commercial activity is outweighed by a newer appreciation of the value of the natural landscape for a variety of species.  It is up to all of us to question our elected officials and bureaucrats, not the applicants, as to why they believe that this is in all our best interests, when we so clearly have set this aside this location for wildlife protection and enhancement. The applicants have every right to apply. It is up to our elected and bureaucratic staffs to make the call for the lands and species we all enjoy and want to protect.

This blog has long supported the work of the JamesTown S’Kallam as they have led environmental protection on the Olympic Peninsula for many decades. We have supported their right to industrial geoduck operations, small scale oyster farming, their rights to their share of the salmon of the state. In this one instance we are questioning whether putting this farm inside a tiny refuge that has decades of protection, as we all struggle to save our seabirds, is the right call. It is not about their rights, it is about the location. Can the State not find and trade suitable other locations for the Tribe to establish, especially since the tribe itself has raised concerns about the viability of the location for aquaculture on the scale they are planning? Then the issue of co-management is a non issue. Then they would be imminently qualified to co-manage the refuge.

Filed under: Aquaculture, Clallam County, Environmental Activism, Environmental Law, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca | Tagged: , , , , | 10 Comments »

Dungeness Spit Aquaculture: Court rules in favor of environmentalists

Posted on August 9, 2024 by Al Bergstein

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington State concludes that the Federal Refuge Act requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS/Service) to complete a compatibility determination, that the Court has jurisdiction and that plaintiffs’ case has merit and should be heard. 

In a major ruling for environmentalists fighting to stop the conversion of the Dungeness Spit wildlife refuge into an industrial aquaculture farm, a federal judge has ruled that the USFWS must complete a “compatibility determination” on potential impacts to these federal lands.  A 50-acre industrial shellfish operation has been allowed to operate abutting the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in Sequim WA without the agency having written a compatibility determination or permitted the shellfish operation. This Refuge hosts 240 species of birds, 29 species of mammals, 8 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 26 species of fish.  

Protect the Peninsula’s Future (PPF), a WA State non-profit was joined by another WA State non-profit, Coalition To Protect Puget Sound Habitat and the national non-profit, Beyond Pesticides challenging the USFWS in US Western District Court, pleading that the USFWS must write a compatibility determination stating the shellfish operation’s harm to this refuge.  The USFWS/Department of Interior asked the court to dismiss our case, denying their own authority. On July 17, 2024, the federal district court denied dismissal of the case.

The NGOs also pled that should the operation be allowed, it needed a permit. The federal judge left open the opportunity to strengthen this argument.

In his review of the USFWS attempt to dismiss the plaintiffs’ case, Judge Benjamin H. Settle underscored that the Refuge Act mandates that the Service “shall not initiate or permit a new use of a refuge or expand, renew, or extend an existing use of a refuge, unless the [Service] has determined that the use is a compatible use and that the use is not inconsistent with public safety.”  The federal judge continued, “To conclude otherwise would lead to absurd results. It would require the Court to ignore the clear instructions in the Refuge Act and its regulations that deputize the Service to regulate activity within the Refuge. Indulging the Service’s position would also require ignoring the points in the Refuge Act that carefully instruct the Service on how to navigate conflicting or concurrent authority within a refuge.”

“It bears repeating that the Service already acknowledged that it ‘cannot allow the proposed activity unless the entirety of the commercial oyster farming operation within the Refuge boundary is found Compatible with the Refuge purposes.’”

This blog has repeatedly reported on the move to create an industrial aquaculture operation inside Dungeness Spit. In previous articles, we saw key members of the wildlife reserve send reports saying that the proposal was bad for birds and other creatures in the waters inside the Spit. Regardless of the concerns DNR head Hilary Franz signed an approval of leasing the tidelands to the company. Yesterday, Franz lost her bid to move to the U.S. Congress, and she might be replaced by one of two Republicans, but the votes are still being tallied, and Democrat and environmental champion Dave UptheGrove is still in second place as of this writing.

You can help this legal case by sending donations to: PPF   PO Box 421   Sequim WA  98382

or make online through PayPal:  https://www.protectpeninsulasfuture.org/donate/

Filed under: Clallam County, Environmental Law, Environmental Protection, Olympic Peninsula, Straits of Juan de Fuca | 3 Comments »

Election24: primary results

Posted on August 9, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Links below for each candidate are for their endorsement pages.

WON THE PRIMARY! Congressional District 6 US Representative: Emily Randall

  • High integrity; doesn’t take corporate PAC money or timber industry
  • Wants to fight climate change, protect our forests and rivers
  • Washington Conservation Action gives 100% rating for her work in the Legislature
  • Fights for women, children, LGBTQ rights and health care.
  • Helped pass the strongest abortion protections in the country. Planned Parenthood named her the “legislature’s biggest champion of abortion rights.”
  • Secured the largest investment in affordable housing, providing much-needed help to first-time homebuyers, low-income and homeless residents, and rural communities.
  • Lowered prescription drug costs, supporting the creation of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which limits the price of high-cost drugs across the board for every WA resident.
  • Banned the purchase and sale of assault weapons.
  • Refuses to accept corporate PAC money.
  • Emily’s opponent has not been truthful in many occasions where she’s taking sides against environmental protection and then not admitted that she had done so. I trust Emily to do the right thing.

Governor: Bob Ferguson – WON THE PRIMARY

  • Serving as attorney general since 2012, has won some of the biggest and most consequential legal cases in Washington history, including protecting water quality from Trump’s pro-pollution environmental policies
  • Committed to establishing Washington as a clean energy hub
  • Endorsed by Senator Patty Murray and Washington Conservation Action
  • This is a no-brainer. Bob Ferguson has proven over and over again through the years of Trump’s presidency to be willing to fight for our rights against the attacks on our constitutional rights.

Attorney General:  Nick Brown – ADVANCING TO ELECTION!

  • Experience as general counsel – appointed by Gov Inslee. 
  • President Biden nominated Nick to become the U.S. Attorney for Western Washington where he was praised for his work fighting drug cartels and sex trafficking, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and reducing violent crime, and fighting Trump against the Muslim ban.
  • Chaired the Attorney General’s Advisory Subcommittee on Civil Rights, and brought a focus to keeping every Washingtonian safe by preventing and prosecuting hate crimes, and protecting the most vulnerable and members of marginalized communities.
  • JAG officer / Bronze Star medal during Iraq war

Commissioner of Public Lands: Dave Upthegrove – PRIMARY TOO CLOSE TO CALL. WAITING ON FINAL RESULTS

  • Long track record of environmental advocacy in both the State Legislature and the King County Council
  • The only candidate pledging to put a moratorium on cutting the state’s older forests
  • The only major candidate who does not take corporate PAC or timber money
  • Endorsed by Washington Conservation Action and the Sierra Club… and our own Connie Gallant who has worked with Dave on projects over the years.
  • Environment and Climate Caucus 

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Chris Reykdal – ADVANCING TO ELECTION.

  • As a member of the State Board of Natural Resources, has been by far the most supportive of protecting the State’s older forests
  • Advocates decoupling timber harvest revenue from funding government functions
  • Sole endorsement of Washington Conservation Action

Legislative District 24 State Senator: Mike Chapman – ADVANCING TO ELECTION.

  • Generally strong record on environmental issues, including some tough votes on climate action
  • Has taken some controversial positions that many of my environment colleagues disagree with on forests, but his positions are evolving, as evidenced by his recent support for protecting the Power Plant legacy forest
  • Strong leadership record in the State House which he will carry to the Senate
  • I have talked to Mike many times over the years and respect his positions regardless if I agree with them or not. Highly recommended, no reservations..

Legislative District 24 State Representative position 1: Adam Birnbaum – ADVANCING TO ELECTION!

  • Served as Senator Kevin Van De Wege’s Legislative Assistant
  • In the community, Adam serves on the boards of the Olympic View Community Foundation, the Nor’wester Rotary, and the Clallam County Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board.
  • Adam grew up in rural Washington. His father was in the union and Adam saw the union help his family through some extremely tough times. He is very pro union.

Legislative District 24 State Representative position 2: Steve Tharinger – ADVANCING TO ELECTION

  • Long tenure in the legislature with a generally strong record on climate, including some tough votes.
  • He has taken some positions that many of my environment colleagues disagree with on forests, but in his role chairing the House Capital Appropriations Committee, he helped secure funding to protect some of the older state forests. Has done a good job with the Capital budget
  • Washington Conservation Voter rating 92% (lifetime as of 2019-20; 2021-22 is 83%). he has supported many important causes on the peninsula in the many years that I’ve been here. It may be Steve’s last campaign, so let’s send him back to Olympia to complete the bills he’s hoping to get done.

Jefferson County Commissioner District 1 – Heather Dudley-Nolette – ADVANCING TO ELECTION

  • Long time Jefferson County resident and active in numerous city government issues over the decades.
  • Co-Founder of the CoLab in Port Townsend.
  • Deeply involved in housing issues for low-income families. Currently Deputy Executive Director of Bayside Housing & Services.
  • Has worked in county government in King County under Ron Sims Office of Management and Budget.
  • Volunteered in numerous organizations in the county.
    • Former President of the Port Townsend Main Street Program
    • One of the founders of the Young Professionals Network
    • Awarded Citizen of the Year by the Main Street Program in 2015
    • Awarded Business Leader of the Year in 2016 by the Chamber.
  • Husband is a contractor and runs a small business.
  • Family has deep roots in the community for decades.

Washington State Insurance Commissioner – Patty Kuderer – ADVANCES TO ELECTION

  • Endorsed by Bob Ferguson
  • Supports Univeral Health Care
  • Has been a State Senator

Washington State Supreme Court Position 2 – Sal Mungia – ADVANCES TO ELECTION

  • Extremely well qualified.
  • Former president of the Washington State Bar Association
  • Highly respected lawyer
  • Extensive Pro-bono work
  • Exceptionally well qualified by six bar associations.

United States Senator – Maria Cantwell – ADVANCES TO ELECTION.

Washington State Lieutenant Governor – Denny Heck – ADVANCES TO ELECTION.

Washington State Secretary of State – Steve Hobbs – ADVANCES TO ELECTION

President of the United States

Kamala Harris. We need a younger energetic president, who is tuned into the issues of the minority communities of America and women’s rights. She is an incredibly qualified person for the job of President.

The alternative is a sexual predator , a felon who in most states would be unable to run for office. A man who does not believe in science nor a woman’s right to make choices on the healthcare of her own body. He is running a cult of gullible people who think he can turn back the clock to an America that only exists in their memory. An America that was “great” only if you were white, and not even then if you were Jewish or a woman.

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | 2 Comments »

Representative Kilmer Delivers for Peninsula

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Al Bergstein

In his waning days as a U.S. Representative, Derek Kilmer has delivered more money as promised to help our counties. It is time for the Republicans to stop whining about Democrats inability to bring home the bacon for our desperate needs. Our unemployment rate is much higher than the Puget Sound region, the Port Angeles mill has just shut down, throwing hundreds out of work. Our hospitals are struggling to stay afloat. But through it all, Kilmer and President Biden have delivered. He has reached out across the aisle to the Republicans who actually want to get things done, in a bipartisan manner. He delivers the goods. Read it. And vote for more Democrats who can deliver money to help us with our needs. The Democrats are actually getting things done.

A Major Win for the North Olympic Peninsula by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer

As many readers of this newsletter know, I grew up on the Olympic Peninsula and was in high school right around the time the timber industry took it on the chin. I saw a lot of folks in our community lose their jobs and their livelihoods. It had a big impact on me.

It’s why I studied economic development policy in college and grad school. It’s why I worked in economic development, it’s why I ran for office and it’s why I introduced the RECOMPETE Act – bipartisan legislation to establish a new federal grant program to invest in communities that have faced long-term economic challenges.

Excitingly, that bill was turned into the Recompete Pilot Program, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022 as part of a comprehensive economic competitiveness bill called the CHIPS and Science Act.

The mission of Recompete is simple: to empower communities with flexible multi-year grants to meet local economic development needs, create good jobs, and rebuild stronger with lasting opportunity.

It’s a recognition that America cannot compete if it leaves people – and entire communities – on the economic sidelines.

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that, just this week, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded $35 million to reinvigorate the economy on the North Olympic Peninsula.

At the end of last year, the North Olympic Peninsula Recompete Coalition (NOPRC) – a diverse coalition of regional economic development leaders, local governments, Tribal nations, and education leaders, was awarded a Strategic Development Grant to enhance local planning and coordination efforts.

Out of 565 applications across 49 states, NOPRC was named one of twenty-two national finalists for the implementation funding we are celebrating this week. Now, the NOPRC has been a national awardee – and will be able to utilize $35 million to chart a course for an economic resurgence that honors our past while innovating for our future.

Specifically, the funding will help NOPRC drive renewed economic competitiveness and good job opportunities in the region. Specifically, the funding will support the expansion of the Composite Recycling Technology Center, a facility that manufactures Advanced Cross-Laminated Timber (ACLT) in cooperation with the Makah Tribe; critical marine transportation infrastructure; and a workforce strategy with social support services. This investment means we will be able to ensure that we can create good-paying, long-lasting jobs that will reinvigorate the region’s economy for decades to come.

The Recompete Pilot Program is more than just another policy initiative. It’s a beacon of hope for communities that have been overlooked. Designed specifically for regions that are considered “economically distressed” by the EDA – those where employment among 25- to 54-year-olds lags behind the national average – the Recompete Pilot Program aims to revitalize economic activity in distressed communities, including right here in Western Washington.

Seeing the RECOMPETE Act – an idea I’ve championed for years – come to fruition with this funding for the North Olympic Peninsula gives some real cause for hope. Indeed, the NOPRC is a terrific example of what we can achieve through the power of partnership. It’s a culmination of years of dedicated effort by community leaders and passionate individuals who believe in the Olympic Peninsula’s potential.

Together, we are showing a commitment to not only revive but reinvent our legacy industries. We are crafting a strategy for growth and resilience that can serve as a model for other communities. And while we’re still writing the story of the Olympic Peninsula, our journey toward a stronger economy continues – powered by the will and innovation of folks who care about the community. As a PA native, I’m proud to be a partner. Let’s keep at it!

Investing in Regional Climate Resilience

With 3,000 miles of coastline and more than 70,000 miles of rivers and waterways, our state is particularly prone to the threats posed by the climate crisis. From sea level rise to coastal erosion to loss of vital habitats and ecosystems, climate change is threatening the way of life, economic security, and health and safety of communities across our region.

At the end of July, I was thrilled to announce, alongside Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded more than $75 millionin federal funding for projects here in Washington to help make our state’s coast more resilient to climate change and other coastal hazards. This funding, through the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which I voted for and which was signed into law by President Biden.

This funding will help complete major projects across our region – like realigning SR112 on the Peninsula, restoring critical shoreline on Puget Sound and on the coast, improving stormwater drainage, and protecting and restoring important fish habitat. These transformational projects will create jobs, protect the environment, and make coastal communities more resilient. That’s a big deal for our region.

For years, I have advocated for increased federal funding for Tribal relocation and resilience efforts, and this recent investment by NOAA is yet another step towards that goal. 

I’m proud to have been able to help secure this crucial funding for major projects in our region, and I’ll keep working back in D.C. to ensure the federal government continues to invest in local efforts to make our coastal and Tribal communities more resilient.

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , , , | Comments Off on Representative Kilmer Delivers for Peninsula

Get your ballots in!

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Less than 11% of the state’s nearly 4.9 million registered voters had returned their ballot as of Tuesday, according to data on the secretary of state’s website. We do NOT want to see some oddball candidate win or come in second and knock out a serious candidate. Get those ballots in!

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | Comments Off on Get your ballots in!

Washington tribes seek to pause offshore wind development – Axios Seattle

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Axios Seattle is reporting that Washington Tribes under The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission have asked for a pause in the planning for the offshore wind farms along the Washington coast while the tribes concerns are addressed. The Tribes are not asking for a total ban on the farms but have environmental concerns they say have not been addressed.

Worth noting is that the farms are in the very early stages of permitting by the Federal Government.

As Axios notes:

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has received two unsolicited lease proposals for offshore wind farms along Washington’s coast.

  • One, from Trident Winds, would cover an area of about 315 square miles about 45 miles off the coast of Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.
  • The other, from Hecate Energy, seeks to lease 403 square miles in a nearby area about 17 miles off the coast.

Both these farms are planning on wind turbines with virtually no impact on the visual look of the coast, but the concerns are more about their impacts on fishing and whales.

As stated in an earlier blog post, this blog along with the stated goals of the tribes in the article is to support wind energy projects, but “not on the backs of the tribes”. The assumption is that the wind energy companies can provide reasonable scientific backing for their proposals. The east coast has implemented wind energy farms much closer in than the proposed Washington coast project, with no signficant impacts. Some of the background on those efforts are found here:

BOEM Completes Environmental Analysis for Proposed Wind Project Offshore Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Comparison of Environmental Effects from Different Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations (boem.gov)

The Institute for Energy Research does have this conclusion to the New England wind farms. It appears that high interest rates, which are impacting the sales of electric cars, are also impacting the implementation of wind energy. Note the concerns in bold:

While a few offshore wind projects have gotten off the ground and have started producing electricity, others have been canceled, often with developers occurring fines. Developers have canceled several projects along the East Coast, saying they were no longer financially feasible. Offshore wind projects have struggled to surmount rising construction and material costs, as well as serious manufacturing problems. In recent months, rising materials costs, high interest rates, and supply chain delays have prompted project developers to cancel or try to renegotiate power contracts for commercial-scale offshore wind facilities in the United States with operating start dates between 2025 and 2028. Offshore wind facilities are among the most expensive utility scale power projects under construction in the United States and would not have gotten off the ground without massive support from state and federal governments and pre-approved power purchase agreements. With the cancellations that have occurred, President Biden’s goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030 is expected to be half that amount.

New England Is Moving Ahead with Offshore Wind Facilities, Despite Their Cost – IER (instituteforenergyresearch.org)

The wind farm built by Avingrid has started producing 68 Megawatts of power to Massachusetts since then.

A good scientific reearch paper on the subject was produced by Nature:

Reviewing the ecological impacts of offshore wind farms | npj Ocean Sustainability (nature.com)

Microsoft’s CoPilot produces this summary of it’s search on the topic:

Wind farms in New England, particularly offshore wind projects, have both positive and negative environmental impacts.

On the positive side, the development of the New England Wind lease area is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 4 million US tons annually, which is equivalent to taking approximately 700,000 cars off the road each year during the lifespan of the project1. The New England Wind project is expected to generate up to 2,600 megawatts of electricity, sufficient to power more than 900,000 homes with clean renewable energy23.

On the other hand, there are potential negative impacts associated with the construction and operation of wind farms. These can include disruption to marine life during the construction phase, potential collision risks for birds and bats, and changes to the seascape that can impact tourism and fishing2. Research is being conducted to prevent environmental damage4.

It’s important to note that the specific impacts can vary depending on the location and design of the wind farm, and measures are often put in place to mitigate potential negative effects. For example, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) completed an environmental review of the proposed New England Wind project offshore Massachusetts3. This review process is designed to carefully analyze the environmental impact of the proposed project3.

In conclusion, while wind farms can have some environmental impacts, they also play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing a source of renewable energy. It’s a balance between managing these impacts and transitioning to cleaner energy sources to combat climate change.”

Sign up for Axios to support independent journalism in the Pacific Northwest.

Washington tribes seek to halt offshore wind farms – Axios Seattle

Filed under: Alternative energy., Clallam County, Climate Change, Environmental Science, First Nations, fisheries, Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: , , | 4 Comments »

Hilary Franz’s DNR work prioritized political gain, some staffer say: Seattle Times.

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) head Hilary Franz, is again in the hotseat, as allegations surface from numerous staff of hers that her image and race for higher office has been the focus of her tenure at DNR. As someone who has covered the Commissioner of Public Lands since her first run for office, I can say that these charges do not surprise me at all. Her lack of honesty in dealing with issues has been a hallmark of her tenure to those of us who have needed her support. A simple example is that she denied she ever approved the controversial DNR leasing to an industrial aquaculture company of the waters inside the Dungeness Spit Wildlife Refuge, even when shown her own signature on the DNR documents. Her comment to me at the time was, “I have no idea about that.” That staffers openly say her only goal was higher office also goes hand in hand with what I’ve witnessed in her dealing with Jefferson County Democrats during fundraisers. As readers know, this blog has come out in favor of her opponent, Emily Randall.

The Times has endorsed Franz, and even beloved cartoonist David Horsey decided that the charges were not worth worrying about in his editorial. Needless to say, he has never worked with her, nor needed to deal with her department to try and protect the shores of our waters. And this is the problem, to a casual observer, she appears to be a great choice, but when one actually has to work with her and her department, it’s a totally different story. Horsey claims Hilary doesn’t kowtow to industry, when all of us who have been involved in following her choices know that is just not true. To Horsey, I would only say, Hilary is not just an ambitious politician, she is all about whatever it takes to promote Hilary’s march to Washington. And the environment is just a prop to gain power and distract those that are not paying attention.

Franz came and talked to the Jefferson County Democrats in her first race for Lands Commissioner. We welcomed what seemed like a bright, energetic woman who claimed she was all about protecting the environment. We also could tell how ambitious she was, in her slapping her buttons on the chests of those of us in line to get in before even introducing herself to us. It was an odd introduction. But after she took office, we began to see that she was far more interested in promoting industry over the environment and that all the issues were about Hilary and her supposed accomplishments. It was not listening but telling. Always a warning when dealing with a politician.

Long time Jefferson County Democratic party activist and environmental leader Connie Gallant, tried to work with Hilary on numerous occasions and came to same conclusion. Ms. Gallant sent a strong letter describing her feelings about the Times article to her environmental email list, redoubling her support for Emily Randall.

If this candidate was a Republican, or Donald Trump, the Times would likely have more real outrage about the allegations. But given that Hilary plays well with the environmental movement leaders in places like Bellevue and Seattle who never seem to get out of their tower offices to see what is happening on the ground in places like the Olympic Peninsula, papers like the Times will cheer her on.

It’s totally likely that she will be our next Congressional Representative, given the support Franz has received from the usual suspects. I guess we could at least say she will be out of our hair on a local level and worrying about a much wider range of issues than the environment. Her support of business over the environment will likely have less negative impacts. She will have a replacement who hopefully will care more about protecting the environment than she has, though our state’s reliance on turning forests into tree farms and turning virgin shorelines into industrial aquaculture farms means the fight will have to go on indefinitely.

Here’s the crux of the Times story. Please either subscribe to the Times, as it is one of our only regional newspapers left or go to your local library and read it for free. And take a look at our choices for elected officials we have found listen to us, do the hard work to stand up for environmental protection, or have pledged to do so. Our recommendations are at

Election24: primary recommendations | Olympic Peninsula Environmental News (olyopen.com)

Fifteen current and former DNR employees described in interviews with The Seattle Times how Franz aggressively used the agency to burnish her image to run for higher office — first for governor and now for Congress — in ways that some say blurred lines governing the use of public resources for political purposes.

The current and former employees, including women and men who have worked as senior aides and managers, said they were pressured to organize official events driven by Franz’s campaign needs and to help her secure political endorsements.

The current and former employees, including women and men who have worked as senior aides and managers, said they were pressured to organize official events driven by Franz’s campaign needs and to help her secure political endorsements.

Hilary Franz’s DNR work prioritized political gain, some staffers say | The Seattle Times

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula, Politics | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Job opening – Marine Mammal Stranding Network Program Specialist

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Al Bergstein

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center holds a letter of authorization from NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, to serve as the Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN) coordinators for East Jefferson County on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. In the summer of 2023, we experienced a significant increase in response calls for stranded harbor seals along the shores adjacent to Rat Island and Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island. With concerns related to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 infected Caspian Terns, we plan to increase monitoring of these areas this year and do more outreach to the public about HPAI and what to do if you find a stranded marine mammal (call the MMSN).

The Marine Mammal Stranding Network Program Specialist will focus on marine mammal stranding network response and educational outreach to the public. The position is based out of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. This is a seasonal, temporary, part-time, non-exempt (hourly) position.

Primary duties for the role involve monitoring the PTMSC marine mammal stranding network hotline; dispatching volunteers when necessary; responding to strandings and collecting Level A data and photos; collecting animals for transport to Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR) when candidate for rehabilitation; collecting carcasses and transporting to CVAR for HPAI testing; surveying shorelines as needed; and providing educational outreach to the public about MMSN and HPAI.

Qualified applicants should have previous education in Marine Biology, Aquarium Science or a related field; experience with animal care in a public, research, or wildlife facility; experience following protocols and procedures; experience communicating clearly in a variety of settings; experience working and interacting with all levels and different styles of personalities while maintaining a professional attitude.  Previous education in aquarium or life sciences is strongly preferred, and experience in a customer-driven environment is a plus. Reliable transportation is required for this position. Mileage reimbursement is available for travel to and from animal response sites and for the transport of animals to and from CVAR from sites. Weekend and holiday work will be required for this position.

This is an hourly position, paid at a rate of $18.00 to $20.00 per hour based on qualifications and professional experiences. This position will average approximately 25-30 hours/week. Benefits include Paid Sick Leave at the rate of 1 hour sick leave for every 10 hours worked.

At PTMSC we value collaboration generated by a positive, friendly environment. A good sense of humor is a must! In addition to departmental responsibilities, team members have opportunities to participate in special projects, represent the science center at events, and advance their professional development.

How to Apply:

Find the full position description on our website, ptmsc.org/work-for-us.

This position is open until filled. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please email a copy of your resume and cover letter to jobs@ptmsc.org, with the subject “MMSN Specialist Position.” Please address your cover letter to Betsy Carlson, Citizen Science Coordinator.

PTMSC will provide equal opportunity to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, military status, marital status, order of protection status, genetic information, sexual orientation, transgender status, or any other category protected by law, in accordance with all applicable law.

Filed under: Olympic Peninsula | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

Wind energy surpasses coal use

Posted on July 9, 2024 by Al Bergstein

More good news. In April, wind power generated more electricity than coal for the second month in a row, according to the latest available data from the Energy Information Administration. Wind briefly surpassed coal once before in April last year, but this time it’s by a much larger margin and for two consecutive months.

It was inconceivable to me 20 years ago that we would be at this point today . I didn’t believe that we would get here this quickly. This is one of the reasons why I support efforts for wind energy off the coast of Washington. We have no time to lose in fighting climate change, and the rising levels of CO2 in our atmosphere. It is threatening our very existence and virtually every scientist in the planet is in agreement with this. There are certainly downsides to every single project possible but the need for generating more electricity everywhere we can in an environmentally neutral way has never been more important.

The next time you hear of wind energy project and hear objections to it. Please be willing to be open minded to the bigger picture as to why this is needed.

Filed under: Alternative energy., Global Warming, Olympic Peninsula | 1 Comment »

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