OLYMPIA – Not all waterbodies in Washington meet the state’s definition of ‘clean’ – but that doesn’t always mean that those waters are polluted. Even in their most natural, unaltered states, some rivers, streams, lakes, and parts of Puget Sound may be …
Most of us, most of the time, don’t think about breathing. We don’t think about the approximately 15 breaths per minute, 17,000 breaths per day, or more than 6 million breaths a year that we take. And we don’t think about the quality of the air we breathe. …
Concrete structures like buildings, foundations, and sidewalks, might seem like they will last forever, but modern-day concrete structures generally do not last longer than 50 to 100 years. Concrete is widely used in construction because it is resilient, …
In mid-April, the final phase of cleanup began at the Pasco Landfill (view map). Contaminated soil in Zone A that remains after the removal of about 35,000 drums of hazardous waste will be treated using an in-situ thermal remediation (ISTR) system. The …
In 2015, testing detected PFAS in some of the groundwater in the Lower Issaquah Valley. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of manufactured chemicals that persist in the environment. Some of them are toxic and can accumulate in …
OLYMPIA – Puyallup-based contractor RM Homes LLC will pay a reduced $40,000 penalty for water quality violations at a construction site in Gig Harbor, under a settlement agreement with the Washington Department of Ecology. In 2023, state and local …
Often, we think of nutrients as a good thing. We want nutrient-rich foods, and we may add nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorus to our gardens to help plants grow. Unfortunately, what’s good for our gardens, is a big problem for Puget Sound. Puget Sound is …
BELLINGHAM – The Washington Department of Ecology filed a basin-wide general adjudication for the Nooksack river system and nearby areas with the Whatcom County Superior Court on May 1, formally beginning the adjudication process. A water rights …
Cosmetics are more than makeup. Cosmetics include most self-care products—anything intended to be used on the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, such as shampoo, deodorant, and lotion. Some …
Photo courtesy of King County Wastewater Treatment Division Each municipal wastewater treatment plant in Washington is regulated by their own unique water quality permits from Ecology. These permits ensure that the wastewater treated by these facilities is …
RICHLAND – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a landmark agreement that proposes a realistic and achievable course for cleaning up …
Our marine scientists survey beaches througout Puget Sound and test water for fecal bacteria. Puget Sound is home to almost 4.2 million people, and many of us enjoy visiting our local beaches. Sometimes our beaches can also harbor harmful bacteria, which …
The Ecology Spills Program prepares for oil and hazardous substance spills and responds to them with a rapid, aggressive, and well-coordinated posture. However, preventing spills from happening in the first place is the best way to protect the environment …
Ecology’s Water Banking Pilot Grants have undergone some recent changes. The grants were previously restricted to counties with headwaters of a major watershed within their borders. This year’s legislative session removed the headwater restriction. Five …
Wood stoves, fireplaces, and other residential wood burning devices put out hundreds of times more fine particle air pollution than other sources of heat, such as natural gas or electricity. The resulting smoke can lead to asthma, lung disease, heart …
BELLINGHAM – In preparation for the upcoming basin-wide water right adjudication in the Nooksack Basin and surrounding areas, the Washington Department of Ecology has mailed 30,000 postcards to water users in and around Whatcom County. Even in the rainy …
Each summer, crews of scientists and technicians head into the woods, over fields, and down canyons to locations along dozens of rivers and streams in one of eight watershed-based Status and Trends Regions around Washington. The researchers survey the …
OLYMPIA – With winter’s snowstorms largely behind us and summer just weeks away, our state’s low snowpack and forecasts for a dry and warm spring and summer have spurred the Department of Ecology to declare a drought emergency for most of Washington. …
There have been recent news stories about a supposed slump in the transition to zero-emission transportation—that growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales has leveled off and manufacturers are scaling back plans for new models. Here’s what you didn’t hear: …
From coffee shops and cafeterias to restaurants and gas stations, food service often uses disposable products. While convenient, these products can create waste, add to pollution, and leach toxic chemicals into the environment. Washington has new …
