Public News Service

Electric school buses are in the minority, with about 95% of school buses nationwide running on diesel. (Thomas/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

WA lawmakers move to electrify school bus fleet

School buses are getting cleaner in Washington state after this year's legislative session. Lawmakers in Olympia passed House Bill 1368, which will …

Washington state's program to combat climate change raised $2.2 billion in its first year. (jdoms/Adobe Stock)

WA carbon cap program faces initiative challenge on November ballot

By Kate Yoder for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboration For…

A mural at the Patagonia store in Belltown, Washington, reminds residents they all live downriver from the Hanford nuclear site. (Hanford Challenge)

WA communities unite to keep Hanford nuclear site cleanup on track

"We all live downriver from Hanford," is the message painted on the windows of the Patagonia store in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood. It is a …

Washington state's Climate Commitment Act will set aside $20 million every year to improve air quality. (asayenka/Adobe Stock)

WA Climate Law Aims to Improve Frontline Communities' Air

Washington state is crafting its ambitious cap-and-invest law to reduce the state's emissions by 95% by 2050 and is seeking comments from the public…

The dam holding toxic mine waste at the Mount Polley mine in British Columbia experienced a breach nearly eight years ago. (Visible Earth, NASA/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Toxic Waste from BC Mines Presents Urgent Threat to NW

A new report released today details the potentially disastrous threats mines in British Columbia pose to Washington and other states in the Northwest…

Research shows fine particles in wildfire smoke, already hazardous to people's health, can become even more harmful over time. (Brett Palm/University of Washington)

Worse with Age: Wildfire Smoke Could Become More Toxic Over Time

SEATTLE -- Wildfire smoke can be counted among the things that don't get better with time. Researchers studying the effects of smoke plumes are …

The Washington Environmental Health Disparity Map identifies communities highly impacted by environmental justice issues. (Washington State Department of Health)

Task Force: Ways for WA to Prioritize Environmental Justice

SEATTLE -- A new report lays out how Washington state's government can ensure environmental justice for people of all races. The Environmental …

There are 74 Southern Resident orcas in the Northwest, their lowest population in nearly three decades. (Candice Emmons/NOAA)

Public Comment on Orca Saving Recommendations Ends Sunday

SEATTLE – The Washington state Southern Resident Orca Task Force's recommendations for saving the killer whale population are open for public co…

Una planta que consume carb�n, cerca de Centralia, Wash., est� programada para ser cerrada completamente en 2025. (Kid Klutch/Flickr)

Defensores: Comunidad de WA, muestra del Potencial de la Cuota Tributaria del Carbón

CENTRALIA, Wash. – Con una iniciativa en la boleta de noviembre para aplicar cobros a la industria que contamina con carbón, los …

The Trump administration is proposing freezing fuel efficiency standards at 35 mpg for the next six years. The public has 60 days to comment. (Jeff Wilcox/Flickr)

Trump's EPA Throws Fuel-Efficiency Standards to Scrapheap

KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Trump administration is halting the push for higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars - standards aimed at reducing a …

The harmful effects of excessive formaldehyde in wood products came into sharp focus in FEMA trailers after Hurricane Katrina. (Infrogmation/Wikimedia Commons)

New Fed Rule Protects Consumers from Formaldehyde in Wood Products

SEATTLE – A new rule put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency this month will protect consumers from formaldehyde in wood products…

There are only 76 killer whales left in the Northwest's iconic Southern Resident population. (NOAA/Wikimedia Commons)

Governor-Led Orca Recovery Effort to Hold First Meeting

OLYMPIA, Wash. – An orca conservation team convened by Gov. Jay Inslee is holding its first meeting on Tuesday. The Southern Resident Killer …

Northwest tribes oppose the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, which could increase oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Juan de Fuca sevenfold. (Mark Klotz/Flickr)

NW Tribes Face Threats from Expanding Oil and Gas Projects

SEATTLE – This year, Native tribes have been at the forefront of opposition against expanding oil and gas transport in the Northwest. They …

Bees are important pollinators for plants and flowers, but in the past year, populations nationwide have dropped by one-third. (Andreas/Flickr)

Last Chance to Comment on Pesticides and Bee Health

SEATTLE – Today is the final day for the public to comment on an updated assessment of four pesticides that environmental and food-safety groups…

The prototype for a battery-free cell phone developed at the University of Washington was built with cheap, off-the-shelf components. (Mark Stone/University of Washington)

Battery-Free Cell Phones: Convenient and Good for the Environment?

SEATTLE – Cell-phone users are excited that the prototype for a battery-free cell phone might mean they could cut the cord to their chargers in …

The Hanford Nuclear Reservation is the most contaminated nuclear site in the U.S. (Philo Nordlund/Flickr)

Feds Consider Demolition of Contaminated Facility at Hanford

RICHLAND, Wash. – Radioactive contamination is spreading at an aging facility on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, according to a report from …

The EPA has until November to finalize new rules, known as fish consumption rules, for water quality standards in Washington. (pixabay)

Federal Judge to EPA: No More Delays on WA Water-Quality Standards

SEATTLE - A U.S. federal judge has told the EPA it must finalize new water-quality rules aimed at making Washington state waters cleaner. The rules …

Protesters asking for a Clean Energy Revolution will be in Philadelphia this Sunday on the eve of the Democratic National Convention. (Brylie Oxley/Wikimedia Commons)

Protestors Focus on TPP in March Before DNC

PHILADELPHIA - Thousands will be marching in the streets of Philadelphia on the eve of the Democratic National Convention, calling for a Clean Energy …

In 2011, the EPA released its first-ever findings of environmental discrimination in a case of pesticide spray near a California school. (Chafer Machinery/Flickr)

EPA Struggles to Deliver Environmental Justice

SEATTLE - The Environmental Protection Agency rarely investigates complaints from minority communities that allege local environmental regulations ar…

The Dog Aging Project is recruiting dogs in middle age to participate in the study of a drug that could extend the pets' lives. (pixabay)

UW Researchers Test Drug to Lengthen Dogs' Lives

SEATTLE - Researchers from the University of Washington are studying a drug that could extend the lives of dogs and one day, maybe even humans…

At full strength, a proposed coal-export terminal in Longview would ship 44 million tons of coal overseas each year. (Sam Beebe/Ecotrust)

Public Hearing in Pasco on Massive Coal-Export Terminal

PASCO, Wash. – Supporters and opponents are gathering in Pasco today for the final public hearing on a massive coal-export terminal in Longview…

The House and Senate are updating the 40-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act to regulate cancer-causing chemicals more quickly. (Pixabay)

World Cancer Day: Washington Watching D.C. Modernization of Toxics Law

SEATTLE - Today is World Cancer Day, and if you look around, you might find household items contaminated with potentially cancer-causing toxins…

Spokane-area residents pack an Oct. 27 meeting about Avista's continued use of power generated from coal. Courtesy: Sierra Club

Coal Power Prominent in Avista 20-Year Plan

SPOKANE, Wash. – Avista, the electric utility that serves much of eastern Washington, is planning its next 20 years of power output – and …

TransAlta power plant in Centralia. A march and rally were held in Seattle on Wednesday to bring attention to communities impacted by climate change. Courtesy Sierra Club.

Broad Coalition Unites for Climate Justice March

SEATTLE – A demonstration in Seattle Wednesday drew greater attention to the people that environmental advocacy groups say are most affected by …

Scott Mazzone, a marine biologist with the Quinault Indian Nation, takes water quality samples. Credit: Debbie Ross-Preston, NW Indian Fisheries Commission.

Feds Set to Override Washington Water Quality Standards

SEATTLE - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to the water quality standards for human health in Washington, after the …

Shell's Polar Pioneer drilling rig arrived in the Seattle area to protests, and left Elliott Bay in mid-June. Credit: Jeff Dunnicliffe for The Backbone Campaign/Flickr.

Port of Seattle Back in Court Over Oil-Rig Homeport

SEATTLE – It's back to court on Friday for the Port of Seattle, and conservation groups that contend the port commissioners didn't conduct an …

GRAPHIC: The tan area of this map of Washington indicates a statewide mercury advisory for fish consumption for children and women of childbearing age. Mercury is one of the pollutants the EPA is trying to regulate, but the U.S. Supreme Court says the agency must consider the impact of costs to industry. Map courtesy Washington State Dept. of Health.

Down But Not Out: EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

SEATTLE – The EPA was handed a setback by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. The justices voted five to four that before the agency put a new …

PHOTO: The Washington Legislature is considering ways to help regional utilities end their use of power from the Colstrip Generating Station in Montana. Environmental groups want a timeline for the transition and protections for ratepayers. Photo copyright Paul K. Anderson; used with his permission.

Groups Ask for WA Transition from "Coal to Clean Energy"

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Environmental advocates from across the state made their way to Olympia on Wednesday to underscore what they say is the need …

PHOTO: An aerial view of Terminal Five at the Port of Seattle shows the location at the heart of a lawsuit filed on Monday to stop oil drilling ships from being docked and repaired in Puget Sound. Photo courtesy of the Port of Seattle.

Oil Issues Front and Center This Week in Washington

SEATTLE - It's turning out to be a big week for oil transport issues in Washington. On Monday, four conservation groups filed a lawsuit in King …

PHOTO: Some Washingtonians say oil-train disasters such as the one in West Virginia this month, in which 27 of 109 rail cars full of Bakken crude oil derailed, can only be avoided if the trains aren't allowed in the Northwest. Photo courtesy Office of West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

Skagit County Oil Trains Get Indefinite Delay

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - Last weekend's oil train derailments and explosions in West Virginia and Ontario are having reverberations on the Washington …

PHOTO: The Colstrip Generating Station in Montana has been under regional scrutiny for years for air and water pollution. Three Washington utilities use some of its power, and have proposed legislation to retire the plant. Photo courtesy Montana Environmental Information Center.

Clean Energy Advocates: Washington Transition from Coal "Too Slow"

OLYMPIA, Wash. - A coal-fired power plant in Montana is at the heart of legislation getting its first committee hearings this week in Olympia…

PHOTO: A side of toxins with that? Groups critical of Washington's proposal to update water-quality standards claim it doesn't do enough to clean up pollution or curtail industrial waste discharge, while health warnings persist for eating fish caught in some locations. Photo credit: JRStock/FeaturePics.com

New WA Water Quality Standards: Still in the Pipeline

OLYMPIA, Wash. - People can comment starting this week on new state water quality standards that already have been years in the making in Washington…

PHOTO: It looks deee-licious! But ornaments, tinsel, chocolates and even some plants common in homes during the holidays are dangerous for pets. Take a few precautions to keep the cats and dogs in your household safe. Photo credit: Chris Thomas

Looking Out for Furry Family Members at Holiday Time

SEATTLE - With all the food and festivities, keeping pets safe during the holidays can be a challenge. But furry family members will be just fine …

PHOTO: Before wrapping children's holiday gifts, look at them with an eye for safety hazards. While there are some toy safety standards and guidelines, there's no guarantee a product has been tested. Photo credit: Songbird/FeaturePics.com.

Toy Safety: A Little Research Can Prevent a Big Tragedy

SEATTLE – Before wrapping toys purchased as gifts this holiday season, it may be time to take a closer look at them. A rubber duck, backpack…

PHOTO: Recommendations from the Washington Dept. of Ecology outline how to fund and prepare for oil-shipment emergencies, when tribes and conservation groups think the focus should be on curtailing oil transport through the state. Photo credit: marpalusz/FeaturePics.com

Report: Preparing WA for More Oil Shipments, Spills

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Department of Ecology made recommendations this week for what the state could do to handle and fund the risks …

FOTO: Once proyectos ferrocarrileros han sido propuestos para el Nor-Oeste (NW) desde 2012. Este carro tanque, de los conocidos como DOT-111, es del tipo que lleva petr�leo crudo Bakken. Foto cortes�a de la U. S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

¿Retumbarán más trenes con carbón y petróleo por el Nor-Oeste?

SEATTLE – En un reporte del Instituto Sightline se urge a la gente a que no se detenga en los proyectos individuales, sino que vea el panorama …

PHOTO: Washington's favorite entree is one reason Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed an update to the state's water quality laws. But commercial fishing and water-keepers' groups are already in court asking the EPA to step in. Photo credit: gbh007/iStockphoto.com.

Inslee Pitches New Water Quality Rules; Groups Hear "More of Same"

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing an update to the state's water quality rules. On its surface, it sounds like good news for fans of …

PHOTO: The EPA proposal would require Washington to reduce its carbon emissions from power generation by 72 percent from 2012 levels, but much of that would be the result of phasing out the TransAlta plant in Centralia. Photo courtesy Sierra Club.

For Washington, EPA Carbon Rule is Right in Line

SEATTLE – Cleaning up carbon pollution from power plants is the goal of a more than 600-page rule proposed Monday by the Environmental Protectio…

PHOTO: Oil flares like this one in the Los Angeles area are a common sight at refineries. The EPA is proposing rules for refineries to monitor and minimize toxic air emissions. Photo courtesy Jesse Marquez, Coalition for a Safe Environment.

New EPA Rules Would Reduce Air Pollution from Oil Refineries

ANACORTES, Wash. - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new federal requirements for oil refineries to monitor and minimize their …

PHOTO: Montana's Colstrip Generating Facility is owned in part by electric utilities serving Washington customers. Environmental groups say those ratepayers are on the hook for costs related to the plant's massive coal ash waste ponds. Photo credit: David T. Hanson for Montana Environmental Information Center.

Report: WA Pays to Clean Up MT Coal Ash Contamination

SEATTLE - Many Washington homes and businesses use power generated by burning coal, although the power plants aren't located in the state. A new …

McDonald's Taken to Task for Low Wages, "Toxic Taters"

SEATTLE – Fast-food giant McDonald's is getting it from all sides this week. Some of its Seattle-area restaurants were targeted in a McPoverty …

PHOTO: Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told the National Press Club on Thurs. that her department needs budgets it can count on and less Congressional gridlock. Photo courtesy DOI.

Jewell: Interior Dept. Needs More Budget, Less Bickering

SEATTLE – The other Washington is very different from the one in the northwest, said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in her remarks Thursday …

PHOTO: A little less appetizing? Groups suing the EPA say it isn't moving fast enough to require stronger state water quality laws in Washington, to ensure that locally-caught fish are safe to eat. Photo credit: iStockphoto.com.

Groups Challenge WA Water Pollution, Fish Consumption Safety Rules

SEATTLE – Some fishing and conservation groups say Washington's water pollution laws aren't strong enough and they're suing the Environmental Pr…

PHOTO: Two oil shipping terminals proposed for Grays Harbor on the central Washington coast are on hold. Their permits are being reversed for further environmental study of possible risks associated with increased oil shipments by rail and tanker traffic by sea. Photo credit: Grays Harbor Tourism

Environmental Questions Delay Grays Harbor Oil Terminal Plans

HOQUIAM, Wash. – Plans for two new terminals to store oil and pump it into tankers in Grays Harbor are on hold after the Quinault Indian Nation …

PHOTO: Some Northwest fishermen say the 'thrill of the catch' would be a lot less thrilling if coal shipments compromise air and water quality on the Columbia River. Photo credit: Nic Callero.

Fishermen Cast Their Doubts on NW Coal Terminal Plans

SEATTLE – The Northwest fishing community says state and federal agencies ought to be trolling for a lot more information before allowing coal e…

PHOTO: Kids are especially susceptible to chemicals, and parents might be surprised to find out how many were found in recent lab tests of everyday outdoor picnic products. Photo credit: iStockphoto.com.

Fun in the Sun with...Toxic Chemicals?

SEATTLE – There may be more than ants and sunburns to worry about at this year's picnics and barbecues. A coalition of consumer watchdog …

PHOTO: Some pesticides affect a salmon's sense of smell, making it hard for them to migrate back to their

Report: Feds Not Doing Enough about Pesticides and Endangered Species

SEATTLE – The Environmental Protect Agency is being urged to do a better job of considering the effects that pesticides have on endangered fish …

PHOTO: From March to September, water samples taken throughout the state will help determine how much pesticide spray ends up in streams. Photo credit: Ron Nichols, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

WA Pesticide Monitors Hit the Streams for Another Season

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Starting this month, water samples will be scooped out of streams every week around the state to test for the presence of farm …

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WA: Toxics