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1999 News

December 27, 1999

• Dangerous waste workshops planned

December 23, 1999

• Ecology Department issues air quality advisory

December 21, 1999

• New EPA standards will help Washington’s air
• Ecology issues new draft of proposed shoreline guidelines

December 16, 1999

• Judge rules on Asarco lawsuit over cleanup of Everett neighborhood

December 15, 1999

• Whatcom county mink farm fined $24,000 for water pollution
• Companies will pay the price for polluting Washington’s waters

December 13, 1999

• Portable-toilet company fined for raw sewage spill at Pt. Defiance
• ‘DNS’ designation withdrawn from tire-burning proposal

December 9, 1999

• Market stabilization helps raise Washington's recycling rates
• Ellensburg man agrees to $10,000 settlement for tire fire

December 8, 1999

• Final figures show wheat stubble burning down in fall

December 3, 1999

• Olympic Pipe Line Co. fined for negligence on Renton spill

December 2, 1999

• Workshops planned on managing dangerous waste

December 1, 1999

• Lawsuit on metering water use goes to court
• Emission Check changes start Jan. 4

November 30, 1999

• Youths "cleaned up" in Adams and Grant counties last summer
• Youths "cleaned up" in Franklin County last summer

November 29, 1999

• Sea-Tac third-runway independent environmental studies under way

November 23, 1999

• Tacoma oil facility fined $14,000 for hazardous waste violations

November 19, 1999

• Klickitat garners watershed planning funds

November 18, 1999

• Bothell company fined for hazardous spill
• Ecology cuts off "deadbeat" permit holders

November 17, 1999

• County boards get guidance on deciding water rights
• Negotiators agree on schedule for constructing, operating treatment complex at Hanford

November 16, 1999

• Historic water-right agreement earns Environmental Excellence Award
• $75,000 for local water planning in west Clallam, Jefferson counties
• Rock-crushing company settles with Ecology
• Ecology asks for comments on dairy permit to protect water quality

November 15, 1999

• America Recycles Day celebrated with debut of children's art calendar

November 10, 1999

• Handling of Pend Oreille Mine tailings to be discussed at public meeting

November 8, 1999

• Benton County litter crews wrap up season
• Wenatchee-area litter crews wrap up season
• Okanogan litter crews wrap up season
• Kittitas County litter crews wrap up season
• Yakima County litter crews wrap up season
• Have a say in chemicals used in Washington’s lakes
• Truck hauling contaminated soil crashes into Diablo Lake
• Litigants to seek settlement over surface-water rights

November 4, 1999

• Governor bestows quality-improvement award on Whatcom Watersheds Pledge program

November 3, 1999

• West Richland water-right decision approved
• Managing an elusive water-quality problem

November 2, 1999

• Snack food manufacturer earns environmental recognition

November 1, 1999

• Lind man fined $67,200 for unauthorized water use
• Penalty summary for third-quarter

October 29, 1999

• Georgia-Pacific to reduce air and water pollution

October 28, 1999

• Dairies applauded for keeping water clean

October 27, 1999

• Oil-spill advisory committee created

October 26, 1999

• Agreement settles air violations at Okanogan landfill

October 25, 1999

• Settlement with Spokane plating company will improve environmental protection
• Clean water may mean changes to wastewater-discharge permit fees

October 22, 1999

• Agricultural burning down in 1999

October 21, 1999

• Maury Island environmental studies under way
• Cosmopolis mill gets second $10,000 penalty for repeat discharge

October 20, 1999

• Ecology makes tentative finding on water rights for Okanogan County resort

October 18, 1999

• City of Spokane fined for discharging raw sewage into river

October 15, 1999

• Ecology discloses additional documents related to wheat and grass burning

October 14, 1999

• Boat cleaning in Poulsbo threatens environment, leads to penalty

October 13, 1999

• Ecology OKs White Salmon drinking-water request
• Ecology seeks clarity on water law requirements for large housing developments

October 12, 1999

• Rayonier forestry group earns environmental recognition

October 11, 1999

• Ecology extends comment period for trial burn in Columbia Gorge

October 8, 1999

• Ecology, Seattle Art Museum propose agreement to allow sculpture park on cleanup site

October 7, 1999

• Ecology Department seeks comments on plan for reducing water pollution

October 6, 1999

• Tanker operator fined for carrying oil illegally

October 4, 1999

• Ecology Department plans changes in vehicle-emission checks
• Ecology expands permit assistance services statewide

September 30, 1999

• Unearthed waste drums solve piece of contamination puzzle near Chehalis
• Using unauthorized water leads to $19,400 Ecology penalty
• Ecology seeks comment on revised open-burning proposal

September 28, 1999

• New study indicates farm soils have lowest levels of dioxins
• Ecology moves forward to clean up more polluted waterways

September 27, 1999

• Communities use state grants to protect local water supplies

September 24, 1999

• Court dismisses Save Our Summers’ lawsuit against Ecology
• Yesterday’s dust storm may not be season’s last

September 23, 1999

• Fertilizer company fined for improper handling of hazardous waste
• Twenty-six hazardous-waste sites added to state cleanup list

September 22, 1999

• Panel to begin studying oil-spill risk for North Puget Sound

September 20, 1999

• Ecology honors oil-tanker company for safety achievements
• Facilities honored for preventing pollution

September 16, 1999

• Cosmopolis chemical-pulp mill fined $10,000 for polluted discharges

September 14, 1999

• Two Whatcom County dairies fined for pollution

September 13, 1999

• Chem Central Fire Update

September 9, 1999

• EPA okays Spokane River cleanup plan

September 7, 1999

• Ecology reissues penalty for illegal garbage fire

September 3, 1999

• Stevens County adopts plan to protect its shorelines

September 2, 1999

• Farm fined $10,000 for manure discharges to Columbia watershed

August 31, 1999

• Arsenic cleanup nearly finished in northeast Everett neighborhood

August 25, 1999

• Ecology stops release of mercury into Stillaguamish River
• Fines issued for ammonia release to storm drain

August 23, 1999

• Money and technical assistance to help water quality and salmon

August 19, 1999

• Ritzville man fined $12,000 for illegal trash burning
• Boat cleaning in Lake Washington Ship Canal leads to penalty

August 18, 1999

• Fourteen growers fined $54,632 in first round of illegal burning penalties

August 17, 1999

• Westport crab, shrimp processor fined $20,000 for water quality violations
• Public should beware of methamphetamine labs

August 16, 1999

• Tacoma aluminum smelter violates air quality standards again
• Groundwater improvement seen in contaminated area

August 13, 1999

• Kaiser Mead fined $58,800 for air quality violations

August 12, 1999

• Federal, tribal, state agencies sign water management pact
• Starbuck volunteers build their own sewage-collection system
• Quarterly Enforcement Summary

July 29, 1999

• Kaiser Mead fined $24,000 for water quality violations

July 27, 1999

• Construction dust on rise this year

July 26, 1999

• Tacoma firm fined $486,000 for recklessly handling hazardous waste

July 22, 1999

• Firefighters earn environmental recognition

July 20, 1999

• Improving services for certifying operators of wastewater treatment plants
• Fitzsimmons extols new technology for reducing, stabilizing waste

July 19, 1999

• Public gets first look today at cleanup plans for Bellingham Bay sediments

July 16, 1999

• Trouble in Paradise for air quality at Mount Rainier

July 15, 1999

• PRF explosion results in settlement

July 9, 1999

• Summer litter pick-up begins; motorists urged to drive safely

July 8, 1999

• Kudos to treatment plants with perfect records
• Ensuring clean water may mean changes to wastewater discharge permit costs

July 6, 1999

• Transportation department will help restore salmon stream in Bellevue
• Ecology adds five more hearings on proposed shoreline guidelines

July 1, 1999

• Snake River water right moratorium ends, but permits will not be processed
• Littlerock dairy fined $60,000 for spilling animal waste into state waters
• Tacoma foundry fined $66,075 for discharging metals into storm drain

June 30, 1999

• County governments soon can help break water-right gridlock

June 25, 1999

• Settlement of West Point penalty will boost low-tide tours on Puget Sound

June 23, 1999

• Ecology issues penalties for storage-tank violations

June 18, 1999

• Ecology "sweeps" through Spokane’s Crown West Industrial Park to seek environmental improvements

June 17, 1999

• Water quality money will help small communities and salmon
• Pasco landfill contamination to be discussed at open house

June 15, 1999

• National Frozen Foods Corp. honored for environmental excellence
• Wastewater treatment plants praised for protecting water and fish

June 14, 1999

• Ecology helps Central Washington counties battle litter
• Ninety farmers sent violation notices for illegal burning in 1998
• Comments sought on Clark County’s stormwater permit

June 11, 1999

• Water-right processing gridlock in Walla Walla is breaking

June 8, 1999

• Kaiser Mead fined $18,400 for violating air quality
• Ecology Department digs deep to identify roadside litter

June 7, 1999

• Ecology submits Spokane River metals cleanup plan to EPA
• Snohomish firm fined $44,750 for unpermitted quarry near Monroe

June 3, 1999

• Frequently asked questions on litter survey and sort

June 1, 1999

• Ecology Department digs deep to identify roadside litter
• Comment sought on water quality permit for sand-and-gravel companies

May 28, 1999

• Idaho mining district cleanup plans to be reviewed by Washington group

May 27, 1999

• Public comment sought on ‘water bank’ proposal
• Pateros wins wastewater treatment funding

May 25, 1999

• Environmental representative joins Waste-to-Energy technical committee

May 21, 1999

• Most Skagit County dairies make progress on stream protection

May 14, 1999

• Governor Locke, Ecology Department reward schools for recycling

May 13, 1999

• Palouse River and Coulee City Railroad fined for odor violations

May 12, 1999

• Ecology Department seeks comments on proposed shoreline guidelines
• Governor Locke to issue recycling awards to local schools

May 11, 1999

• Kaiser Aluminum fined $86,000 for violating air quality laws

May 10, 1999

• Boaters must clean their boats out of the water to protect water quality
• Ecology helps Eastern Washington counties battle litter

May 6, 1999

• Ecology attempts to speed water-right processing in Walla Walla

May 5, 1999

• Rempel Brothers fined for spilling concrete waste to ground water
• Nearly 5,000 birds oiled on Washington coast so far this year
• Business, government facilities honored for waste reduction and recycling

May 4, 1999

• Landowner applies for relief from tire fire penalty

May 3, 1999

• Snowmelt poses high water threat for Eastern Washington rivers
• Dairy inspections still moo-ving in a positive direction for water quality
• Ecology Director to host meeting in Bellingham

April 30, 1999

• Dept. of Corrections fined for stormwater runoff from Stafford Creek prison

April 29, 1999

• Fun new environmental exhibits open at Padilla Bay on May 1

April 28, 1999

• Ecology report shows chemical-release levels going down

April 27, 1999

• Comments sought on Tacoma’s stormwater program

April 26, 1999

• Ecology recommends steps to protect Sun Lakes from growth-related pollution

April 23, 1999

• Ecology youth crews work to identify roadside litter

April 22, 1999

• Tar ball cleanup under way on San Juan Island

April 21, 1999

• Rockford to improve water quality with $1.56 million from Ecology
• Penalty for air quality violations reduced
• Developer fined for allowing stormwater runoff at Battle Ground
• Kalama chemical manufacturer fined for discharging pollution

April 20, 1999

• Ecology, oil industry propose rescue tug for Strait of Juan de Fuca
• Ecology orders Asarco to begin yard cleanups in Everett
• Earth Day tree-planting project to benefit Deschutes River salmon

April 15, 1999

• Ecology seeks comment on proposed open-burning rule changes

April 8, 1999

• Tacoma aluminum smelter penalized for illegal air emissions

April 7, 1999

• Ecology, businesses cut hazardous waste by 78 million pounds in five years

April 6, 1999

• Environmental studies part of new ARCO refinery permit

April 5, 1999

• Ecology to help potato processor pilot major water-saving technology
• Funds will upgrade irrigation system, provide water for fish

April 1, 1999

• Ecology seeks advice about which waterways need to be cleaned up

March 30, 1999

• More people means more dams, more safety problems

March 26, 1999

• Pacific Beach sewer upgrade a model for other small communities

March 24, 1999

• Settlement reached on leak-detection systems on Hanford double-shell tanks

March 22, 1999

• Public forum planned on status of tank-waste treatment at Hanford

March 18, 1999

• Fresh-fruit packing companies protect water quality
• Chelan County man fined $22,000 for illegal dump fire

March 17, 1999

• Latah Creek Stream Team meets with citizens to discuss solutions to flooding

March 16, 1999

• Quality of Liberty Lake water to improve with help from Ecology loan
• Proposed court agreement adds funds to clean up Cameron

March 15, 1999

• "Water bank" proposal topic of public workshop
• Twenty-five hazardous-waste sites added to state cleanup list

March 11, 1999

• Hearings board upholds asbestos penalty; work continues at site
• Ecology revokes well-drillers' license

March 10, 1999

• Toxic metals in Commencement Bay drop by 90 percent

March 8, 1999

• News conference on status of Commencement Bay

March 5, 1999

• Richland facility gets tentative permission to treat, store mixed waste

March 4, 1999

• Proposed changes to municipal stormwater permits

March 3, 1999

• Rule to process water rights in Walla Walla back on track

March 2, 1999

• Ecology to host open house in Kennewick
• Dairy inspections reveal most farmers are preventing water pollution

February 25, 1999

• New guidelines adopted to reduce field-burning smoke
• Franklin County receives financial boost for managing waste
• College Place and Walla Walla receive funds to help fish run

February 22, 1999

• Six Whatcom Co. dairies fined $190,000 for water pollution
• Moses Lake company fined $10,000 for releasing toxic chemicals

February 19, 1999

• Ecology director to host meeting in Seattle

February 18, 1999

• Ecology issues penalties for storage-tank violations
• Tar balls from Washington beach not from New Carissa

February 16, 1999

• Milestones proposed for assessing tank-leak contamination
• Training focuses on managing auto-recycling wastes

February 15, 1999

• Oil vigil continues along Washington beaches

February 14, 1999

• Washington beaches still clean on Sunday

February 13, 1999

• No oil in Washington waters yet

February 9, 1999

• Menlo-area dairy fined for polluting Willapa River
• Knee-deep manure prompts federal and state action on Everett farm

February 7, 1999

• "How to Grow Your Farmers Market Business" Conference at Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington

February 4, 1999

• Ecology responders ready in case beached Coos Bay freighter spills
• Ecology Director to host meeting in Spokane
• Ecology questions cross-Cascade pipeline proposal

February 1, 1999

• Conservancy board records first water-rights change

January 28, 1999

• Enforcement action wraps up lumber company’s air issues

January 27, 1999

• Dam emergency procedures focus of tabletop exercise

January 26, 1999

• Neighborhood residents review plan to clean contaminated yards

January 22, 1999

• Tacoma chrome-plating company fined for waste violations
• Ecology honors three Chehalis Basin dairies for protecting water quality

January 21, 1999

• Dramatic increase in meth-lab cleanups exhausting Ecology’s resources
• Ecology Director to host meeting in Vancouver

January 20, 1999

• Unique permit aids developing technologies

January 19, 1999

• Jan. 19 public workshop to discuss local water cleanup plans

January 14, 1999

• Crown Jewel mine receives a pivotal permit

January 13, 1999

• New video explores Washington’s coastal erosion problems

January 12, 1999

• Ecology seeks outstanding recyclers in business and government

January 11, 1999

• Ellensburg landowner fined for illegal tire fire

January 8, 1999

• Most of Long Beach closed to public for cleanup of washed-up tar balls

January 6, 1999

• Navy carrier spills jet fuel into Puget Sound

January 5, 1999

• Lewis County fish farm penalized $120,000 for spilling pollution
• Wheat growers agree to decrease smoke emissions by 50 percent
• Meetings scheduled to discuss funding for water-quality projects

January 4, 1999

• Hanford board seeks at-large member