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2003 News

December 31, 2003

• Spill Status Report as of 12 p.m.

December 30, 2003

• Spill Status Report as of Dec. 30, 2003, 6 p.m.
• Cleanup of Point Wells spill under way

December 29, 2003

• Study of contaminated facility in Moses Lake ready for public reviewt

December 22, 2003

• Hearing planned on draft Pend Oreille Mine water-quality permit

December 19, 2003

• Revised order limits irrigation diversions

December 17, 2003

• Shoreline guidelines adopted, grants awarded for local updates

December 11, 2003

• States and U.S. sign historic aquifer agreement
• Think before you wrap that gift!

December 10, 2003

• Water rights approved in Aberdeen, Union, Roy

December 9, 2003

• Oil-tanker company receives state award

December 3, 2003

• Olympic Pipe Line penalties to fund watershed improvements and land purchase

December 1, 2003

• Recycling rate drops, but more types of waste being recycled
• Legal agreement reached to complete toxic cleanups
• Contaminated Spokane Valley bulk plant cleaned up

November 24, 2003

• Ecology Department invests $4.1 million to keep five rivers flowing

November 17, 2003

• State to require greater local accountability for water quality projects
• Intercity Transit gets state's top environmental award

November 14, 2003

• Columbia River environmental, economic reviews under way

November 13, 2003

• Lynden apple grower honored for Environmental Excellence
• Columbia River "mystery spill" settled
• Emission controls and bio-diesel to reduce school-bus pollution

November 12, 2003

• Trucking firm fined $49,500 for spill near Ferndale
• Kelso firms fined for water pollution problems

November 7, 2003

• Department of Ecology to lift statewide burn ban at 1 p.m. today

November 6, 2003

• Shipping company fined for spilling oil into Port Angeles harbor
• Ecology Department penalties total $81,374 in third quarter of 2003

November 5, 2003

• Weather conditions prompt ban on outdoor burning
• Developer settles environmental fine

October 30, 2003

• New air monitors installed in the Methow
• Winterize your boat and prevent oil spills

October 29, 2003

• Free Web service finds homes for items that are 'too good to toss'

October 27, 2003

• Aberdeen gets plan and money to clean up Junction City site

October 24, 2003

• State, USDOE reach agreement on buried Hanford wastes

October 23, 2003

• Loon Lake man honored for wetlands restoration work

October 15, 2003

• Criminal charges filed for removing asbestos illegally

October 14, 2003

• Agencies launch permit center to speed transportation projects

October 13, 2003

• Don't let the car engine idle!
• Agriculture, land-clearing fires require permits
• Kalama chemical manufacturer fined for illegal release

October 9, 2003

• Governor honors facilities that put community and environment first

October 8, 2003

• New discharge permit given to Cosmopolis pulp mill
• Marine refueling company fined for illegal oil transfer
• Gas station fined for failing to monitor for leaks

October 6, 2003

• Ecology Department invites comment on mosquito control
• State asks which beaches should have their water quality checked
• Tidy up gardens and lawns without lighting a fire

October 1, 2003

• Colville River cleanup plan to be discussed in Chewelah

September 30, 2003

• Community asked to get involved in Oakland Bay water study
• Additional environmental effects of pipeline summarized for comment

September 25, 2003

• Southwest Washington counties receive litter cleanup money

September 23, 2003

• Spokane Valley plating business receives highest environmental kudo

September 19, 2003

• Eastern Washington holds untapped treasure chest of energy
• More contaminated sites need to be cleaned up

September 18, 2003

• Worldwide water quality testing begins today

September 17, 2003

• Freedom Marine fined for hazardous-waste violations

September 15, 2003

• Rescue tug launches sixth year of operation

September 10, 2003

• Old mines source of Similkameen River arsenic

September 8, 2003

• Man fined for illegal development at Lake Spokane
• Agencies work to resolve Methow smoke and forest health issues

September 4, 2003

• Sea-Tac Airport stormwater permit sets new standards
• Agencies launch environmental review for proposed gold mine

September 3, 2003

• Unocal completes first phase of cleanup at former Edmonds terminal

September 2, 2003

• Proposed Moses Lake plant one major step closer to construction
• Ecology Department to present Skykomish cleanup proposals

August 27, 2003

• Youth crews help landowners restore fish habitat

August 25, 2003

• Revised air permit issued for Goldendale energy plant
• Water-right leases help increase stream flows in the Dungeness
• Two 1997 grass-burning fines upheld in Franklin County

August 21, 2003

• Ecology Dept. announces new cleanup plan for Spokane River and Lake
• Wildfires blanketing E. Washington in smoke
• Litter crew chief to receive environmental honor

August 19, 2003

• Longview company cited for spilling fuel oil into creek

August 18, 2003

• $115.3 million will help local communities improve water quality
• Study examines Yakima-area ground water health

August 14, 2003

• Spill penalty settled
• Dental association agrees to curb mercury waste

August 11, 2003

• Lewis County solid waste gets top environmental award

August 6, 2003

• B&G Farms, Ecology Department settle mint-slug fire penalty

August 5, 2003

• Cleanup of contaminated sites exceeds expectations
• Study looks at DDT, PCBs in Okanogan River

August 4, 2003

• Agreement to develop fish, wildlife, water quality plan for Grant County dams

July 30, 2003

• Ridgefield settles state penalty to benefit Gee Creek

July 29, 2003

• Don't dump that aquarium!

July 25, 2003

• State provides grants to clean up future Olympic Sculpture Park

July 24, 2003

• Local governments receive litter cleanup money - Central Washington
• Ecology Department nearly triples water-right processing rate

July 23, 2003

• Ecology Department penalties total $356,287 in second quarter of 2003

July 22, 2003

• Local governments receive litter cleanup money - Northwestern Washington
• Public to review order to clean up farm chemical site

July 17, 2003

• TransAtla settlement to benefit Chehalis River
• Ecology Department unveils centralized public-events Web site

July 16, 2003

• Shoreline guidelines ready for public comment

July 14, 2003

• Beware of discarded methamphetamine lab waste!

July 11, 2003

• Ecology Youth Corps gears up for summer litter pick-up

July 10, 2003

• Changes proposed to state regulations on incinerators
• Dairy pays fine, settles penalties

July 7, 2003

• Studies to look at health of fish, water quality

July 3, 2003

• Public consulted about taking BN Othello off hazardous sites list

July 2, 2003

• Petroleum leak investigated in Chelan
• Summer litter pick-up begins in Eastern Washington
• King, Pierce county play areas, parks tested for smelter pollution
• Science panel endorses Western Washington stormwater manual

July 1, 2003

• Comments sought on plan targeting ways to clean up watershed
• Ecology Department approves Lake Tapps water rights
• Ecology Department partners with businesses to provide litter bags

June 25, 2003

• Ecology Department adopts updated water quality standards

June 24, 2003

• Ecology Youth Corps gears up for summer litter pick-up - Bellevue
• Ecology Youth Corps gears up for summer litter pick-up - Yakima
• Cleaned site in Pasco may come off contaminated-site list
• Cleaned site in Spokane may come off contaminated-site list
• State approves permits to allow Corps to deepen Columbia River
• Oil-dumping penalties help pay for environmental restoration

June 23, 2003

• Businesses and broadcasters pitch in to help prevent litter
• Comment sought on which waterways need cleaning up

June 20, 2003

• Study finds elevated mercury levels in Washington bass

June 19, 2003

• Less toxic chemicals being released into Washington's environment
• Ecology Department cites Forest Service for smoke in Methow Valley
• Raymond gets money to clean up Pacific Wholesale site

June 13, 2003

• Ecology Department sues Asarco to force cleanup

June 12, 2003

• Aberdeen man fined for not maintaining buried petroleum tanks
• Spokane River's dissolved-oxygen problem to be discussed
• Eastern Washington stormwater standards to be discussed
• Just $50,000 left for water-measuring grants

June 11, 2003

• You burn it, you breathe it
• State says Hanford environmental impact statement is deficient

June 10, 2003

• Ecology Department grants help recycle 1.25 million pounds

June 9, 2003

• Residents pledging to care for Garrison Creek

June 5, 2003

• Ecology Department outlines North Creek cleanup plan

June 4, 2003

• Ecology Department to present findings on Skagit Valley creek temperatures

June 3, 2003

• Gov. Gary Locke urges legislature to pass critical water legislation during special session
• Recycle old computers on June 21 in Ellensburg

May 29, 2003

• Ecology Department directs cruise line to improve wastewater management

May 22, 2003

• Transformation of old gas station in Rosalia to begin
• Rescue tug finishes fifth season of operation

May 21, 2003

• King, Pierce schools tested for arsenic, lead from Tacoma smelter

May 20, 2003

• You burn it, you breathe it
• Grant helps pay for cleaning up senior center site
• Washington re-opens comment period on Columbia R. deepening

May 16, 2003

• Ecology Department rewards schools for sustainability efforts

May 12, 2003

• Outstanding wastewater-treatment plants recognized

May 8, 2003

• Agreement settles major water-right claims

May 2, 2003

• Businesses recognized for environmental leadership

May 1, 2003

• Recommendations for dealing with lead, arsenic soil contamination available for review
• Student gardeners take on county composting project

April 30, 2003

• Ecology Department orders cleanup of Hanford's buried wastes

April 28, 2003

• Former Davenport gas station operator ordered to begin cleanup

April 25, 2003

• Backlog of water-right changes reduced by 28 percent

April 24, 2003

• Ecology Department helps businesses shrink waste production and expand bottom line

April 23, 2003

• Swimmer highlights need to protect Columbia River from nuclear waste
• Ecology Department penalties total $294,550 in first quarter of 2003
• Methamphetamine by-products a danger to the community
• Ecology Department outlines plan to clean polluted Snohomish River tributaries
• Colville River water-cleanup reports submitted to EPA
• Hundreds expected to take "pledge" to protect watershed

April 22, 2003

• Gov. Locke, Business Leaders Pledge to Reduce Mercury Pollution

April 21, 2003

• Ruth Kees to receive environmental honor

April 18, 2003

• Klickitat Sawmill cleanup issues meeting topic

April 17, 2003

• Yakima weed board to tackle parrotfeather infestation
• Moses Lake firm to receive state's highest environmental kudo
• Woodinville construction site fined $13,000 for water pollution

April 16, 2003

• Scrub boats and gear to keep out invasive species
• Environmental training to settle Corrections Department fine

April 15, 2003

• You burn it, you breathe it (Spokane)

April 14, 2003

• Recycle fluorescents Saturday at Spokane Fairgrounds
• Seeking citizens to help guide Hanford cleanup
• You burn it, you breathe it (Yakima)

April 10, 2003

• Safeway fined $184,000 for Bellevue oil spill
• Spring showers likely to shield Washington from drought this year

April 9, 2003

• Vancouver, Ecology Department unveil exhibit on toxic chemicals

April 8, 2003

• Tacoma steam plant agrees with state to improve ash management

April 7, 2003

• Public comments invited on plan to clean up South Prairie Creek
• Brown Boys fined for dumping silage waste

April 2, 2003

• Large-scale livestock operations must apply for water quality permit by April 14
• Cattlemen to use grant to protect water quality

March 27, 2003

• Shipping company fined $81,000 for spilling oil into Columbia River
• State lifts ban on sewer connections at Wilkeson, Onalaska

March 26, 2003

• Toxic air emissions tackled by joint state-transit project

March 20, 2003

• Preparing for W. Nile virus needn't harm the environment

March 17, 2003

• Ecology Department, businesses cut hazardous waste by 110 million pounds in eight years

March 13, 2003

• Public to weigh in on plan for Snake River dissolved gas

March 12, 2003

• Local and state governments work together in meth-lab battle

March 11, 2003

• Ecology Department imposes deadlines for TRU waste facilities

March 10, 2003

• Eastern Washington water quality to benefit from financial boost

March 6, 2003

• Public invited to meeting March 13 about Lake Tapps water right
• State penalizes shipping company for Columbia River "mystery spill"

March 5, 2003

• Industrial legacy evident in state's contaminated sites list
• Settlement would help restore salmon habitat

March 3, 2003

• Auburn sand-and-gravel company fined for threatening water quality

February 24, 2003

• Vancouver gets top environmental award for water-protection law

February 21, 2003

• Spalding Auto Parts earns high environmental praise

February 18, 2003

• Hearing set for sawmill's wastewater permit

February 14, 2003

• CORRECTION: Penalty to Erdmann Trucking Inc. cancelled

February 13, 2003

• Air advisory lifted for Eastern Washington
• Ecology Department awards $1.7 million for water-measuring devices
• Dioxin limits for paper mills are working to clean up water

February 12, 2003

• Air advisory lifted for Western Washington; still in effect east of the Casades
• Ecology Department penalties total $16.9 million in 2002
• Longview pulp mill fined for violating discharge permit

February 6, 2003

• Comment period extended for maintenance dredging in mouth of Columbia R.

February 5, 2003

• Cleanup agreement reached for Camp Bonneville
• Ecology Department issues air quality advisory

February 4, 2003

• SEPA regulation being amended to follow legislative intent

February 3, 2003

• Ecology Department issues fine for Issaquah Highlands water pollution
• State collects penalty for Commencement Bay oil spill

January 30, 2003

• Ecology Department clears up garbage rule

January 28, 2003

• Ecology Department acquires water rights to help Yakima basin flows

January 27, 2003

• Ecology Department keeps dismantling water-right application logjam

January 22, 2003

• Meth-lab cleanups down for first time since 1995

January 17, 2003

• Final settlements reached for Olympic Pipe Line penalties

January 16, 2003

• Analysis of pollution at City Parcel site ready for review

January 15, 2003

• Ecology Department proposes to fund more irrigation improvements

January 10, 2003

• Air advisory lifted for S.W. Washington

January 9, 2003

• Air advisory lifted for most of Washington
• Ecology Department awards grants to control aquatic weeds

January 8, 2003

• Survey helps shape future of environmental permitting

January 6, 2003

• Ecology Department issues statewide air-quality advisory
• Public comment sought on new water quality standards

January 2, 2003

• Box Canyon Dam receives conditional water-quality approval