BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Washington Department of Ecology is issuing a $53,000 penalty to Myron Williams, Inc., for failing to protect water quality at its mining operation at Egg Lake Quarry on San Juan Island. This business has not complied with the …
OLYMPIA – The fees paid by the 6,800 water quality permittees in Washington state are undergoing a revision. After reviewing more than 60 permit fee categories, the Department of Ecology is proposing updates that will make fees more equitable between …
We're excited to share our new video about The Maddux affordable-housing pilot project in Seattle's Mount Baker neighborhood. We chat with Bob Warren and Sandra Matthews from our Toxics Cleanup Program about the transformation of contaminated …
The steady work of a collaborative Spokane River group has led to the removal of more than 8,000 pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the watershed. Environmental trends also indicate that total PCB concentrations are significantly decreasing in …
A massive dust storm approaches a barn in Harrington, Washington, on Aug. 12, 2014. Every spring through fall, residents in Central and Eastern Washington are faced with the threat of dust storms. Dust storms typically happen when we're experiencing …
Flood season is here, and to help communities better prepare, the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority recently launched its Flood Warning System Gage Alert data dashboard, which provides tools to search, sign up for, and monitor gage alerts. Before this …
It’s the time of year when people start wondering whether we can expect a drought in the near future. After multiple droughts over the last several years the question “will there be water” is likely on a lot of people’s minds. For most of the state, we’re …
OLYMPIA – With the sun out and spring around the corner, there’s litter that needs to be cleaned up on our roadways in Southwestern Washington. This summer, local teens ages 14-17 have an opportunity to help get this important work done. The Washington …
Throughout the 2022 summer swimming season, the Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication and Health — or BEACH— program coordinated bacterial testing at 59 popular Washington beaches across Puget Sound and the coast. BEACH checked for fecal bacteria …
Ragfinery is a Bellingham nonprofit promoting textile reuse. A Public Participation Grant helps fund programs like mending workshops to extend the useful life of clothing. Have an idea for reducing waste or pollution in your neighborhood? The latest …
OLYMPIA – Washington state held its first cap-and-invest auction on Feb. 28, marking a historic moment in the state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a clean energy future. Information from the auction is now published online …
For our next edition of Let’s Talk About Hanford, we're bringing on our colleagues from the radiation program team at the Washington State Department of Health's Office of Radiation Protection. The Office of Radiation Protection protects and …
OLYMPIA – Fees associated with some air quality permits issued by the Washington Department of Ecology will increase for the first time since 2012 under a new rule adopted today. The adjustments apply to the following fees and permit applications, either …
On Read Across America Day, we’re celebrating books that inspire our sense of wonder and take us to far away places. Join our Eastern Region Director Brook Beeler as she shares “Owl Moon,” written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by John Schoenherr. We hope …
At Ecology, our job is to protect clean air, drinkable water, and healthy places to live. To meet those goals, we collect data for environmental investigations. That information helps us address environmental concerns that threaten our quality of life. One …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology recently received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a water quality cleanup plan for the Lower White River. The plan addresses decades-old pH problems associated with excess nutrients …
Comment on the draft SHARP Tool We know of about 7,000 contaminated sites in Washington that are being cleaned up or need to be cleaned up. They range from small spills of gasoline to soil to massive sites with multiple chemical contaminants affecting …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology has identified numerous areas across the state to include in a new environmental justice initiative focused on reducing air pollution. The initiative seeks to reduce pollution from carbon monoxide, lead, …
Department of Ecology News Release - Feb. 28, 2023 OLYMPIA – On Tuesday, Feb. 28, the Washington Department of Ecology hosted the first auction of emissions allowances under the cap-and-invest program established by the Climate Commitment Act. The bidding …
The Walla Walla River basin is a complex and important watershed. Communities, industries, farms, and endangered fish in both Washington and Oregon depend on it. Unfortunately, streamflows and aquifers have steadily declined, despite a decades-long effort …
