Inslee picks salmon recovery coordinator- The Olympian

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Al Bergstein

The Governor moves to fill position on Salmon Recovery Board. 

A Littlerock man has been selected to lead Gov. Jay Inslee’s Salmon Recovery Office, which coordinates regional efforts to return salmon from the brink of extinction. Brian Abbott, the governor’s appointee, joined the state’s Recreation and Conservation Office in 2000 and now leads the salmon recovery grant section. Before that, he was the district manager for the Pierce Conservation District, where he created and coordinated the district’s salmon recovery programs. He also served as vice president and president of the nonprofit South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group. 

Read the whole story here…

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/07/20/2630331/inslee-picks-salmon-recovery-coordinator.html

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Whale patrol cut in B.C., boosted in U.S. – Times Colonist

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Al Bergstein

More boats from Washington state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife will patrol the U.S. side of the Juan de Fuca Strait to look for boaters who disturb southern resident killer whales. The increased patrols are an effort to protect the endangered whales, whose numbers have dipped to their lowest in more than a decade. On the B.C. side, however, there will be fewer eyes on the water. Straitwatch, the group tasked with watching and educating boaters, was told last month it would not receive Environment Canada funding this year, meaning its Salish Sea and Alert Bay boats will remain beached. Judith Lavoie reports. 

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/whale-patrol-cut-in-b-c-boosted-in-u-s-1.545640

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Event: PT Marine Science Center – Oceanography on the Docks

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Oceanography on the Dock upcoming sessions:

July 22 and 29 from 1 – 2:30 pm.This program is free and open to the public. Try your hand at being a scientist. Use oceanography tools. Learn why we measure things such as pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients in the water. Drop in or stay as long as you like. Last week was the training, but if you are interested in learning how to conduct this program, please contact Shannon.  More sessions will be scheduled for July, August and into the fall. Find the dates on PTMSC’s blog. 

www.ptmsc.org

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Clallam County hires attorney for embattled county official Sheila Roark Miller – PDN

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Clallam County Community Development Director Sheila Roark Miller could face a variety of charges stemming from a complaint about her allegedly altering records. The original complaint appears to have been for forcing unpaid overtime, but now is expanded to include what is believed to be a possible charge of back-dating a development permit to ensure the developer would not have to comply with rigorous new water conservation rules that went into effect in Jan of this year, according to my sources. If accurate, that charge apparently could be one of the felony charges mentioned.  Ms. Miller, in her role as DCD head and a landowner/river water user with her farm in the Sequim Valley, has been  a member of the Dungeness River Management Team, and originally ran against an environmentally supportive (and supported by the environmental community)  head of DCD. DCD has also been overseeing the Clallam County Shoreline Master Program update.  Likely Ms. Miller will  take a prolonged leave of absence, and probably resignation would follow while she awaits the pending charges. It would (and likely already has) put a serious cloud over the SMP update. We hope that these charges are unfounded, as it would bring into question much of the work done by her office since she took the reins.

Why does this matter to Jefferson County? Because the movement to create a “Charter County” would make the DCD position an elected position, and lead to inevitable politicization of the position. Currently we do not elect our DCD head, it is a typical county position hired by looking at experience and related job backgrounds. In fact, the PDN has mentioned in the past that this is the *only* elected DCD official in the US. The fact that Clallam County is a charter county allows this position to be made  into a political, rather than professional one.

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130703/NEWS/307039991/clallam-hires-attorney-for-embattled-county-official-sheila-roark

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The Olympic Peninsula Environmental News on KPTZ.org today at Noon(ish) PST.

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Tune in to listen to 30 minutes of the latest in the environmental news for the Peninsula. We are generously hosted by Phil Andrus and his show “Tossed Salad”. Should start about 12:05, just after the community calendar.

Streaming but no podcast, yet.

http://www.kptz.org

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Job Opportunity! – NOSC hiring two positions

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Al Bergstein

NOSC is also hiring an “Education and Outreach Assistant” WCC Individual Placement Intern and 5 WCC Crew Members for October 2013-September 2014.

Applicants must be 18 to 25 years old at the time of hire (age restriction may be waived for recently returned military veterans).  Applications due Friday, August 2nd.  To apply, visit www.nosc.org

NOW HIRING: WCC Individual Placement – Education and Outreach Assistant (1 position) 

Description: This position assists in leading a service learning education program, looks over a native plant nursery, runs summer chum and Coho spawner surveys, helps with monitoring on current and past NOSC projects, and assists with volunteer coordination and producing outreach materials.

For application instructions please read the full job announcement:
Edu & Outreach Assistant at NOSC, WCC IP position 2013-2014

NOW HIRING: WCC RESTORATION CREW MEMBER POSITIONS (5 open positions) 

Crew Supervisor: Owen French
Telephone: 360-470-0004
Location: Port Hadlock
Email: Owen.French@ecy.wa.gov

Description: This crew is based in Port Hadlock, working for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC). NOSC is one of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEGs) in the state of Washington. The crew implements projects for NOSC and partnering organizations, such as conservation districts, other RFEGs, Tribes, land trusts and WDFW. Projects primarily consist of riparian/estuarine restoration which involves; native plantings, noxious weed control and site maintenance (includes brush cutting, mowing, and herbicide application). Corps members will be expected to test for a Washington State Pesticide Applicator License. The crew will occasionally assist with salmonid and habitat monitoring. The work week is generally Monday-Thursday, 7:00AM-5:30PM. View the crew’s blog.

To apply for this opportunity visit the WCC website and select CREW- PORT HADLOCK/NORTH OLYMPIC SALMON COALITION on WCC’s online job application.

Please visit the Washington Conservation Corps Website for more information:  http://www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc/recruitment/counties/jefferson.html

 

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After a 100-year absence, sockeye return to Lake Cle Elum

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Some said it couldn’t be done. But it was done. And it’s being done. Little by little, bringing back the salmon.

For the first time in more than a century, sockeye salmon are returning to Lake Cle Elum high in the Cascades. The project led by the Yakama Indian tribe – on a bare bone’s budget – is getting applause across the continent. And this weekend, tribal members were there to witness something not seen in more than 100 years – sockeye salmon returning from the Pacific Ocean back home to Lake Cle Elum at last. So historic is this for the Yakama Tribe that they call it simply “the return.” Jeff Burnside reports.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/After-a-100-year-absence-sockeye-return-to-Lake-Cle-Elum–215460381.html

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Lawsuit threatened over Puget Sound rockfish – News Tribune

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Al Bergstein

This is long overdue. The declining health of Puget Sound rockfish has been a known situation for decades and our DOE and DFWS have dithered with endless meetings and virtually no real action to protect this fish that rarely leaves it’s neighborhood during it’s lifetime. You fish them out, and they are gone. While the Feds say “it will have little effect” we’ll see whether that’s true, as the designation could be used for other recovery purposes, apparently. The fact that the Feds are 3 years late in getting this done is just another indicator of how broke the whole system seems at times.

The Center for Biological Diversity said Thursday it intends to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for missing a deadline to designate protected habitat for endangered Puget Sound rockfish.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/07/11/2674247/lawsuit-threatened-over-puget.html

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: , , | 5 Comments »

Event: August 5th- Dungeness Bluffs Nearshore Community Workshop

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Al Bergstein

If you live on a bluff, here on the Olympic Peninsula, and are worried about erosion, then you might want to take this workshop.

5august2013Dungeness Community Workshop Press Release CWI final 2

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The Good Drones – Scientific and Environmental Missions

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Al Bergstein

We like these drones.

They’re the tools of modern-day warfare: unmanned aircraft systems better known as drones. They’re also being tested to help carry our important scientific missions, including surveys of wildlife and marine debris in the National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of the Olympic Peninsula. In the marina at La Push aboard the research vessel Tatoosh, two pilots dressed in dark blue uniforms run a pre-flight check on a Puma unmanned aircraft system. They’re with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, the federal science agency that studies changes in our environment.

Bellamy Pailthorp reports. Feds testing drones for scientific and environmental missions

http://kplu.org/post/feds-testing-drones-scientific-and-environmental-missions

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Volunteers help educate Puget Sound crabbers – Seattle Times

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Great idea. Read the whole story at the Seattle Times.

Guys with badges and guns don’t always elicit the most open and friendly response from crabbers. So the state Department of Fish & Wildlife’s enforcement division is trying something new…. (Amanda) Flynn-Stach is a recreational crabber educator, a Washington State University Kitsap Extension volunteer who works with Fish & Wildlife to teach crab conservation and the many rules governing the recreational catch. She and about a half-dozen other volunteers began visiting docks and marinas around Kitsap just after the Dungeness season began July 1. While often wearing red crab-shaped beanies, the volunteers gently remind crabbers how to identify and measure crabs and the various ways they can prevent the all-too-common waste of what has become one of Puget Sound’s most sought-after catches.
Tristan Baurick reports.
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021353594_apwacrabbereducators1stldwritethru.html

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Shhh…Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership At Work – Salish Sea Communications

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Mike Sato hits it right on the head. It’s time for Govenor Inslee to show us what this bureaucracy is doing, and if he’s really behind it or not. Getting it a leader that can actually lead would be a great start. No one would likely cry for it if they kill it and reconstitute it anew. It’s become a behind the scenes player in Olympia and virtually unknown outside of the Capital. A real shame, frankly. We had high hopes for it, but environmentalism appears to be joke and a pawn in the power politics in Olympia. Use it to garner votes, then ignore it for 2 to 4 years. Maybe when we are down to one Orca they’ll actually get serious.

http://salishseacommunications.blogspot.com/2013/07/shhhpuget-sound-partnerships-leadership.html?showComment=1373384001721#c6277622826257682962

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Lab that found virus in B.C. salmon stripped of credentials after audit – Globe and Mail

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Al Bergstein

For helping uncover the cover up of the BC net pen industry and government officials that are aiding them, this well respected lab has been closed down and it’s employees put out of work. Disgusting. A total white wash of some very well respected scientists.

A lab that revealed the first evidence of an infectious virus in British Columbia salmon has been stripped of its international credentials. The lab, run by Fred Kibenge of the Atlantic Veterinary College – University of Prince Edward Island, was one of a handful certified by the World Organization for Animal Health for its expertise in detecting the infectious salmon anemia virus.

Andrea Woo reports. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/lab-that-found-virus-in-bc-salmon-stripped-of-credentials-after-audit/article12977743/

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Washington State Legislature Approves Ultrafine Particle Study for Jefferson and Clallam Counties

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Al Bergstein

This is extremely good news to a start on finding out what kinds of pollution we are breathing and if the new biomass plants are actually doing something that needs cleaning up. That is, if they are built, which seems not a sure thing at this point in time, due to economics, not environmental concerns, unfortunately.

___________________________________________

The Olympic Clean Air Agency and the University of Washington propose to jointly study air quality in Jefferson and Clallam Counties. This project will evaluate possible air quality changes associated with new biomass co-generation facilities in Port Townsend and Port Angeles and changes in ultra-fine particle concentrations associated with both facilities. The project will support state of the art measurements of ultra-fine particles and will respond directly to concerns of the two communities around health effects and industrial development.

Background

Concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions and climate change have encouraged the development of biomass fueled power stations, i.e. biomass cogeneration plants. The biomass fuel varies for each region and can include sugar-cane stalk, corn and rice straw, and palm and woody debris to name a few. This form of power generation is controversial within the “green” community. Proponents claim that burning biomass contributes a net zero addition to atmospheric carbon dioxide compared to fossil fuel combustion [Taylor, 2010]. The carbon released during biomass combustion will be re-used in plant material for the next cycle of energy generation, while fossil fuels represent carbon that has been stored for millennia. Since new co-generation plants are required to use Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to prevent degradation of air quality, supporters further argue that burning biomatter in the plant is cleaner than slash burning outdoors and actually helps improve air quality. Furthermore, industry has been burning biomass waste for years without converting it to usable power, and therefore claim a net gain in power produced vs. carbon released [Taylor, 2010]. The US Department of Energy recognizes biomass co-generation plants as a renewable energy source and has awarded grants to finance their design and operation. (http://www.srs.gov/general/news/releases/nr12_doe-biomass-startup.pdf)

Opponents of biomass fueled co-generation are primarily concerned about subsequent environmental damage and the cleanliness of the technology. They claim that burning biomass will endanger forest land by increasing logging operations and argue that slash should be left to decompose on the forest floor. The primary concern regarding biomass fueled power centers on the release of harmful toxins and fine particulate that can negatively impact the health of residents living near the co-generation plants. Specifically, activists are concerned about ultrafine particles –diameters less than 100 nm – that are not detected by standard air monitoring instruments [Keywooda et al., 1999] and to which recent research ascribes significant health impacts [Keywooda et al., 1999; Morawska et al., 2004].

Recently two new biomass cogeneration plants were approved for installation on the Olympic Peninsula, one at Nippon Paper Industries in Port Angeles and the other at Port Townsend Paper Company in Port Townsend. Both mills have been burning woody biomass as waste for several decades. Construction of these co-generation plants requires installation of emission control technology predicted to decrease the total PM2.5 emitted, despite increasing the mass of fuel burned by a factor of three. PM2.5 is the mass concentration of atmospheric particles with diameters less than 2.5 microns. Other gaseous emissions such as Volatile Organic Compounds and NOx will roughly increase by 35 and 18 tons per year respectively. Despite these pollution controls, and maybe because of them, there is concern that although PM2.5 will decrease, the number of ultrafine particles, which may be more hazardous to respiratory and cardio health, will increase. Research has shown that when PM2.5 decreases, co-emitted gases like SO2 and NOx have less surface area on which to condense and are thus more likely to homogeneously nucleate ultrafine particles downwind of the emission site [Weber et al., 1997]. Despite these concerns, there is very little data that show the impact of biomass cogeneration plants on local and regional air quality, including PM2.5 and ultrafine particulate.

Proposed Study

Port Angeles and Port Townsend are ideal locations to conduct a study focusing on the impacts of biomass fueled cogeneration facilities on air quality downwind of the cogeneration plants. Both towns have similar meteorology and environmental conditions. There are no other large industrial sources or major freeways to obscure ultrafine and fine particulate emissions from the biomass cogeneration plants, although emissions from residential burning in the winter constitute a large fraction of the observed PM2.5 in bothcities. Currently the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) maintains a permanent air monitoring site for PM2.5 in both Port Angeles and Port Townsend. Data on background concentrations of PM2.5, SO2, NOx, CO, and ozone are also available from Cheeka Peak, an NCore site located west of Port Angeles on the northwestern tip of the peninsula and measuring some of the cleanest air in the country. In addition to the permanent monitors, ORCAA will also install four optical particle counters (OPC) that provide data on the number concentration of particles larger than 0.3 microns at three locations in Port Angeles and at one location in Sequim. The OPCs will operate between January 2013 and December 2013. These monitors will move to Port Townsend in 2014. In both Port Angeles and Port Townsend, one of the OPCs will be collocated with the permanent air monitor, a nephelometer. ORCAA also has two aethalometers that measure black carbon concentration and can be used to differentiate between wood combustion and diesel combustion. One aethalometer will be installed at the permanent monitoring location and the other will be installed along with an OPC at one of the other temporary sites. The existence of these monitoring locations creates an infrastructure that will facilitate a study of ultrafine particles and source types of air pollution in the region.

In addition to ambient monitoring that already occurs in Clallam and Jefferson Counties the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, in collaboration with the University of Washington, proposes to conduct an additional study to examine the concentration, sources, and lifetimes of ultrafine particulate in Port Angeles and Port Townsend.

The scientific questions to be addressed are:

1) 2) 3)

4) 5) 6) 7)

Experiment

For this project we will establish two master research sites on the Olympic Peninsula. One will be located near residential areas of Port Townsend and the Port Townsend Paper Corp. The second site will be in Port Angeles near to the Nippon Paper Industries facility. At each site we will ideally conduct a series of pre/post-expansion intensive measurements that can complement the existing measurements using nephelometers, optical particle counters, and aethalometers. The Nippon co-generation plant, located in Port Angeles, expects to begin operating in September or October, 2013 and therefore baseline, winter measurements of ultrafine particles before operations commence may not be possible. To work around this issue, meteorology and plume dispersion modeling will allow data to be segregated to times when emissions from Nippon could affect measurements at the site and those times when they would not.

How will air quality respond to the change in emissions from the facility?

What is the distribution of PM2.5 in residential areas of both communities?

Is there evidence of an increase in ultrafine particulate matter from the expanded facilities?

What is the cause of the odors in the Port Townsend area and what can be done about these?

What are the source contributions to fine and ultrafine particulate in these two areas?

How does this change between winter and summer?

Which neighborhoods are most impacted by these facilities? Are the concentrations

reasonably modeled by a Gaussian plume distribution?

How do ultrafine particulate emissions from the facilities change in the winter relative to the summer?

Measurements of PM2.5, number concentration and size distribution of ultrafine particles (diameter < 100 nanometers), particle chemical speciation, and carbon monoxide will be made at both the Port Angeles and the Port Townsend sites. Continuous stack emission measurements at the facilities will complement the ambient measurements to determine their potential influence on the ambient air quality.

A proposed schedule for this work is as follows:
Summer 2013: 6-week experiment prior to facility modifications and expansion
Winter 2013: 6-week experiment prior to facility modifications and expansion (Port Townsend) Summer 2014: 6-week experiment after facility modifications and expansion
Winter 2014: 6-week experiment after facility modifications and expansion

Instruments and measurements that will be made in addition to those already made by ORCAA:

Instrument

What it measures

Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS), TSI 3936

Ultrafine particle size distribution

Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS)

Aerosol chemical composition

Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (CIMS)

Aerosol chemical composition

TECO 48CTL

Carbon Monoxide

Dusttrak DRX 8543

Particulate matter

Filed under: Government, Jefferson County, legislation, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Projects | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Japanese tsunami vessels arrive in B.C. waters – Vancouver Sun

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Al Bergstein

More 2011 Tsunami debris arrives, it appears.

At least eight vessels suspected to be from the 2011 tsunami have now drifted into B.C. waters, everywhere from the northern tip of Haida Gwaii to Aristazabal Island and Klemtu, on the north and central coast, and to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Large amounts of debris — not even officially being tracked by the province — are also making their way to the central coast to be converted into floats by local residents. Larry Pynn reports.

The whole story is at the Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Japanese+tsunami+vessels+arrive+waters/8573189/story.html

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Alexandra Morton, PhD in Port Townsend for showing of “Salmon Confidential”

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Alexandra Morton

Alexandra Morton, noted author and  scientist who has studied the language of whales,  and  also an independent researcher on the effects of net pen aquaculture in British Columbia, came to Port Townsend on Sunday for a showing of the film, “Salmon Confidential”. The film is a documentary on the growing controversy over the apparent governmental cover up of diseases in net pen aquaculture in British Columbia waters. It features Dr. Morton and her role in the controversy.

Ms. Morton, was present to answer questions that were raised by the full house after seeing the film, and also to update them on what has happened since the film was made. The unfortunate answer is that the situation has gotten worse since then, not better.

You can see the film online by going to the site, http://www.salmonaresacred.org, and following the link to Vimeo. While there, please feel free to click over to the Paypal page and donate Ms. Morton’s cause. She receives no funding from any government or grant. All her work is done with small donations.

You can also see the video of the question and answers, along with short talks by Commissioner Phil Johnson, Connie Gallant and Linda Sutton, all people who were instrumental in bringing Ms. Alexandra to town, and are leaders in the fight to stop net pens from entering Jefferson County waters.

I will be posting the video in the next few days.

The MP3 of the same video, is found at

https://soundcloud.com/mountainstone/alexandra-morton-in-ports

Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: | 4 Comments »

Openings Still Available for Two-Week Summer Teen Program at NatureBridge

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Al Bergstein

This just in..

NatureBridge still has a few open spots for the Summer Field Research Course at its Olympic National Park campus. This two-week immersive backcountry expedition will give high school students the opportunity to conduct rigorous field science investigations in one of the most ecologically diverse national parks in the country.

Modeled on the successful program at NatureBridge’s Yosemite campus, the course offers an intensive teen summer science adventure. High school students will work with National Park Service scientists, using cutting-edge technology to produce their own ecological research project.  The research will be included with a backpacking trip across the Olympic Mountains and ending at the Elwha River, where the largest dam removal in U.S. history is underway.

“Our teen participants will learn critical thinking skills and improve their scientific literacy and confidence,” said Jen Kidder, course director. “The course is student-centered, inquiry-based scientific learning at its most adventurous. Students learn field research skills that can transfer to high school, college and beyond.”

“We appreciate the many opportunities that NatureBridge provides for students and youth to learn about Olympic National Park,” added Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.

The Summer Field Research Course will take place July 14-26, 2013. Students interested in the program are encouraged to contact NatureBridge at 206-382-6212 extension 13 or olympicfieldresearch@naturebridge.org or register online at naturebridge.org/discoversummer.

About NatureBridge

Founded in 1971, NatureBridge provides environmental field science education for students in the world’s best classrooms—our national parks. Through residential education programs, NatureBridge connects students to the wonder and science of nature and inspires the stewards of tomorrow. As the largest residential education partner of the National Park Service, the organization serves more than 30,000 students each year and offers programs in six national parks: Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Olympic National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Channel Islands National Park, and Prince William Forest Park. NatureBridge also offers professional development opportunities for teachers and family and youth programs. NatureBridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  More information is available at www.naturebridge.org.

 

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Event:”Ocean acidification in WA State” June 15th in Port Townsend

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Al Bergstein
“Ocean acidification in WA State: An exploration of its chemical, biological, and societal impacts”
PTMSC presents this lecture by NOAA Research Ecologist Shallin Busch. Busch helped develop NOAA’s Northwest Center state-of-the-art lab for studying the impacts of ocean acidification, hypoxia, and temperature change on coastal marine organisms. She conducts experiments on economically and ecologically important species and uses this research to explore potential impacts of ocean acidification on entire food webs and fisheries. In 2012, Busch served as a member of the WA State Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification. The lecture is this Saturday, June 15th at 4pm in the Fort Worden State Park JFK Building.  No park pass necessary (note: PTMSC is paying in advance so audience doesn’t have to buy a pass, but if you already have one, please bring and display it on your dash). Admission is $7 adults/$5 adult members/$3 youth/$2 youth members

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New Executive Director for PT Marine Science Center Announced

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Al Bergstein

Dear PTMSC volunteers and friends,

As most of you are aware by now, our wonderful Anne Murphy will be beginning a well-deserved retirement at the end of July.  The Board of Directors, after a thorough process of review and interviews, has selected a new Executive Director.

Janine Boire, who will officially start work here on August 1st, is currently the Executive Director of the Discovery Science Center of Idaho, in Boise.  She brings to us many years of executive leadership experience at two different science centers in the western United States.  She spent her childhood here on the shores of the Salish Sea, and prior to leaving the area, worked in a variety of capacities at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.  Janine will be visiting us several times before she and her 12-year-old daughter re-locate to Port Townsend, and you will have lots of opportunities to meet and talk with her over the course of the next few months.

Saying farewell to Anne, who is so much a part of PTMSC, will be a difficult process, but Janine’s wealth of experience, passion for science learning, and love of the Pacific Northwest will help us carry on as we continue our work of inspiring conservation of the Salish Sea.
Linda Dacon, President

PTMSC Board of Directors

 

PS: I was asked to be on the committee to review all the candidates (I am not a member of the Board of Directors of the PTMSC). There were a lot of candidates  with excellent credentials. To all those who applied, I would say that you were up against a very skilled set of competitors for the position, and the choices to even winnow the list down to finalists were not easy. Congratulations to Ms. Boire. And congratulations to the Marine Science Center for a solid process. It’s never easy to replace a founder. – Editor

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State climate consultant hired to shrink greenhouse gases- News Tribune

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Al Bergstein

It appears that the newly signed bill to get data that can be acted on for ocean acidification is progressing about as fast as the government can move. The question is whether it can be funded. Apparently there has been no agreement by the State House to fund this bill. Shellfish growers are very concerned about the lack of interest in funding it by Republicans, as their industry will be the first to die from acidification.

A legislative workgroup chaired by Gov. Jay Inslee voted unanimously Tuesday to hire a Virginia-based climate consultant to examine Washington state’s options for reducing greenhouse gases that are contributing to global climate change.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/06/05/2626915/state-climate-consultant-hired.html

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