OLYMPIA – Six of the past 10 years Washington has experienced drought conditions. Decades of research show that snowpack is dropping across the western United States. Flooding has caused hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage and loss of life …
Central Washington is at the heart of the state’s thriving agricultural production and is home a rapidly growing number of people. However, old orchards in the area, particularly in Chelan and Yakima counties, may have left behind harmful amounts of lead …
The water year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30. Three months before the calendar year changes, hydrologists and other water scientists mark the start of the new water year. Starting the water year in October ensures annual precipitation measurements …
In early November, we will start seeking proposals for projects designed to improve and protect the overall health of Puget Sound’s riparian areas and make them more resilient to the detrimental effects of climate change. Riparian zones include streambanks …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is working to update the statewide general permit for biosolids by incorporating additional documentation and research into the environmental review for the permit. If adopted, the permit will provide …
COSMOPOLIS – The Washington Department of Ecology issued a $42,000 penalty to Cosmo Specialty Fibers for multiple dangerous waste violations. The company has allowed hazardous waste to accumulate on site beyond the required treatment and disposal dates …
OLYMPIA, WA – The California Air Resources Board on behalf of the state of California, the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs on behalf of the Province of Québec, and the Department of …
As environmental challenges get increasingly more difficult to face, private sectors are stepping into the spotlight, embracing sustainability not just as a responsibility, but as a pathway to innovation and growth. To support businesses in this work, the …
WCC’s south King County crew poses alongside Gov. Inslee and his wife, Trudi, in Tukwila Park. On a sunny July afternoon, Gov. Jay Inslee visited Tukwila Park to learn about our Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), one of the Washington Climate Corps …
SepticSmart Week is an annual event that occurs the third week of September, and is a great reminder to do a check up on your on-site sewage system if you have one. Communities, national organizations, local groups, and state governments can bring …
What are these "forever chemicals" that you’ve been hearing so much about? They’re toxic chemicals in everyday products known as PFAS (per-and polyfluorinated alkyl substances). Many PFAS chemicals persist in the environment, meaning they are …
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology is proposing to adopt the federal water pollution limits intended to protect human health – formally adding the existing federal limits into state rules. This proposal would not change any of the human …
OLYMPIA – Cada año se tiran casi 38 millones de libras de basura en las autopistas, carreteras y zonas públicas de Washington. Es decir, unas cinco libras de basura por cada habitante del estado. La basura, además de ser desagradable a la vista, puede …
OLYMPIA – Every year, almost 38 million pounds of litter is dropped on Washington’s highways, roads and public areas. That’s about five pounds of trash for every person in the state. Beyond simply being unsightly, litter can harm water quality and pose …
OAK HARBOR – The Washington Department of Ecology issued a $120,000 penalty to Christopher Whiteman and Victoria Coury for failing to repair damage to wetlands in unincorporated Island County, about eight miles northeast of Oak Harbor. In September 2022, …
For the past few summers, neighbors along French Creek in Snohomish County have been noticing an intriguing change — an unusual orange hue in the stream, particularly where it flows into the Snohomish River. This peculiar color shift has sparked curiosity …
A former bulk fuel terminal site near downtown Edmonds has moved steadily through several cleanup phases since the 1990s. While petroleum and arsenic contamination have been treated and removed throughout most of the site, there are still a few areas that …
In this edition of Behind the Scenes at the Nuclear Waste Program, we sat down with Jeffery Lyon, our Nuclear Waste Program Specialist. The unique world of cleanup Environmental cleanup is often complex, and nuclear waste is no exception. The Nuclear Waste …
OLYMPIA – Local organizations that serve overburdened communities experiencing some of the worst air pollution in Washington can apply for new grants from the Department of Ecology. The state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) is funding the grants, totaling …
SPOKANE – The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $15,000 penalty to a Spokane County farmer for continued unpermitted irrigation of 69 acres of crops at Wild Rose Prairie near Deer Park, despite warnings, a cease-and-desist order, and an …
