EVERETT – The Washington Department of Ecology is issuing penalties of $10,000 each to Community Transit and its contractor CA Carey for stormwater permit violations identified in October 2022 during construction work at a park and ride in unincorporated …
OLYMPIA – Improving habitat, collecting derelict fishing gear, and removing invasive species are just some of the highlights of the latest round of environmental restoration grants awarded by the Washington Department of Ecology. Seven organizations in …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $12,000 fine to RAN General Partnership for illegally irrigating about 40 acres of crops in Whatcom County in June and July of 2023. Despite being informed of the lack of water rights, provided …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is now accepting applications for $11.3 million in water banking grants. The grants are intended to help rural communities in headwater basins throughout the state preserve water supplies for local use. …
We are researching car washes as a significant source of PFAS. You might have seen or heard of PFAS in the news lately, and for good reason: This class of “forever” chemicals can be found many places, from household dust and food packaging to soil and …
Two of the cleanup sites in the Upper Reach. Cleanup at the Terminal 117 site (foreground) is complete and habitat restoration work is underway. Some interim cleanup work has occurred at the Jorgensen Forge site (background) and more will be needed. The …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $29,000 fine to Toledo-based L Rock Industries for repeatedly refusing to submit required quarterly reports that monitor stormwater discharge and potential oil sheening from machinery. Despite …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is penalizing South Bend Products $33,000 for multiple water quality violations. Ecology inspectors reviewed reports that monitor the environmental health of the company’s wastewater discharge for 2022 and …
OLYMPIA – Local governments, Tribes and ports are among the groups eligible to apply for new grants for replacing diesel street sweepers, refuse vehicles, freight switcher locomotives, cargo-handling equipment, and forklifts with zero-emissions models. …
OLYMPIA – Early snowmelt, a lack of spring rain and low streamflows have prompted the Washington Department of Ecology to declare a drought emergency for watersheds in 12 counties throughout the state. Counties affected by the drought declaration include …
Nutrient pollution is still a problem in Puget Sound. Excess nitrogen from people creates a domino effect in the ecosystem, threatening Puget Sound recovery. We're continuing our work to restore nutrient balance in the Sound by taking a region-wide …
The Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) recently opened recruitment for 285 AmeriCorps member positions around the state. WCC is seeking young adults, ages 18-25, and military veterans with no age restriction for field crew and Individual Placement …
OLYMPIA – WestRock Tacoma reached a settlement agreement with the Washington Department of Ecology for a penalty and compliance order issued in December 2022 for a violation of the company’s air quality permit. WestRock’s air quality permit requires them …
Many on the eastern side of the state are already feeling early impacts of the hot, dry weather. Here’s what you need to know about water conditions east of the Cascades. Areas short on water Marshall Creek on May 17, 2023. In the last month, we’ve …
OLYMPIA – A Puyallup foam insulation manufacturer was fined $40,000 by the Washington Department of Ecology for failing to properly designate its hazardous waste for several years. Designation is the process of determining if a waste is dangerous and …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing a new regulation to restrict the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – “super pollutants” that have thousands of times more climate-change impact than carbon dioxide. The rule will require …
Between 1912 and 1973, Washington state treated psychiatric patients at the Northern State Hospital, located on the outskirts of Sedro-Woolley in Skagit County. It was built to be a self-sustaining campus, complete with dairy, steam power plant, staff …
OLYMPIA – In what would be a first for Washington state, the Department of Ecology is proposing to classify four water bodies as “Outstanding Resource Waters” – a special designation under the federal Clean Water Act that carries extra water quality …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $56,000 fine to Puyallup-based RM Homes LLC for multiple water quality violations at an Edwards Drive construction site in Gig Harbor. Violations included the failure to install sediment controls, …
PULLMAN – Lack of maintenance led to a 2022 fuel spill in the South Fork Palouse and has now resulted in a $34,000 fine for Four Star Supply Inc. The spill came from a slow leak from a fuel tank, spilling an estimated 63 gallons of diesel into the river. …
