Instead of complying with a court order to regulate greenhouse gases from big polluters like oil refineries, Ecology proposes to weaken the state’s clean air rules in order to eliminate their responsibility under federal law The Washington Department of Ecology announced its intention to weaken clean air rules and thereby try to escape from its duty to regulate greenhouse gases from industrial sources of air pollution including oil refineries.

May 23, 2012, Seattle, WA—The Washington Department of Ecology announced its intention to weaken clean air rules and thereby try to escape from its duty to regulate greenhouse gases from industrial sources of air pollution including oil refineries. The proposal, filed with the Code Examiner yesterday afternoon, responds to a recent federal court ruling that the Department of Ecology and regional clean air agencies have a legal obligation to require industry to improve energy efficiency and take steps to cut global warming pollution with available technologies.

 Conservationists sound alarm about broader threats to Washington’s State Park System

May 23, 2012, Spokane WA - 
State Park advocates today sounded the alarm about the future of Washington State Parks, pointing to a proposed ski area expansion into pristine subalpine forests of Mt. Spokane State Park, the state’s largest. The agency entrusted with State Parks is requesting comment on the ski area expansion, while at the same time the Parks Commission is also holding statewide meetings seeking input about the future of the parks.

The Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club is proud to present Leaders in Environmental Justice: Water Justice Forum, the third in our series on environmental justice. At a time when human rights and environmental concerns closely intersect,our panelists will discuss the effects of water policy on water supply and access. We will have a panel discussion followed by a workshop. Who's speaking:

• Dave Nazy: Hydrologist for the Department of Ecology will speak about Climate Changes impacts on Water access and quality.
• Ziad Abbas: Associate Director at The Middle East Children Alliance (MECA) will talk about the Palestinian struggle for clean water in the West Bank and Gaza in the midst of drought and Israeli occupation restrictions.
• Larry Wasserman: Biologist for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will discuss the Tribe’s ongoing actions to protect water rights and salmon in the Skagit River Basin.

When and Where: Saturday, May 19th, 2 - 5 PM at Seattle University School of Law Room C5 (901 12th Ave) , Seattle WA

SEATTLE, Thursday, April 19, 2012- Today the Sierra Club launched a bold new campaign, "Coal-Free PSE," to push area electric utility Puget Sound Energy beyond coal in Washington. After years of promoting an image of being a clean energy provider, PSE’s dirty secret is that more than 30% of its electricity in Washington comes from dirty coal.

 “The Pacific Northwest is leading the charge in the race for a clean energy economy with the Beyond Coal campaign’s victories in the retirement of coal-fired power plants TransAlta in Washington and Boardman in Oregon," said Bruce Nilles, Senior Campaign Director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign. "With the launch of our Coal-Free PSE campaign, we urge Puget Sound Energy CEO Kimberly Harris to join thousands of Washington residents in their commitment to end our dependence on dirty coal,” added Nilles.

Come take a hike with us at the beautiful Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve and witness the unique resources that could be lost to build North America’s largest coal export terminal. Bert Webber is a retired Western Washington University professor of environmental and marine science. He and his wife Sue owned and operated the 65-foot research vessel “Snow Goose” on which he taught about local marine biology to students and residents for over 20 years.

Meet at the Ferndale Park n Ride, Axton Road, east of I-5 ~ 1671 Main Street http://g.co/maps/eb7vw

Join us on Earth Day for a Round Table discussion on the regulations, permits and project proposal that will govern the Coal Export Terminal at Cherry Point project.

Where: Fairhaven Library, 1117-12th St., Bellingham.

Contact Llyn Doremus at 360-527-1134 or llynadele@gmail.com for more information.

Learn more about protecting Ballard from 20 mile and half long coal trains per day! Learn about a proposed dirty coal export project that would dramatically affect our community's health and business, and how you can help prevent it from happening.

What are the risks if the largest coal company in the world - Peabody Coal - is allowed to transport up to 48 million tons of coal through Ballard on rail to send to Asia?

You'll learn about:

• The regional impact and specifics of this dirty and dangerous project
• The threat to our local fishing and boating community
• Health threats from coal dust, traffic and emergency service delays, diesel exhaust and global warming pollution
• Why we have a moral obligation to protect our planet from coal exports - What you can do to stop this coal export proposal!

 

Washington State is currently under threat from multiple proposals for dirty and dangerous coal export facilities. Shipping up to a hundred million tons of coal a year through West Coast communities would spread toxic coal dust along the rail lines, clog our railroads, ports, and highways, risk our families’ health, pollute our air and water, and worsen the climate crisis. Sierra Club is organizing in communities across the state to help defeat this ill-conceived project, please join us! Every month the Sierra Club, along with the Power Past Coal Coalition, hosts Beyond Coal volunteer meetings in numerous communities to plan events, update one another on outreach activities and have a good time kicking coal out of Washington.

Washington State is currently under threat from multiple proposals for dirty and dangerous coal export facilities. Shipping up to a hundred million tons of coal a year through West Coast communities would spread toxic coal dust along the rail lines, clog our railroads, ports, and highways, risk our families’ health, pollute our air and water, and worsen the climate crisis. The Sierra Club is organizing in communities across the state to help defeat this ill-conceived project, please join us! Every month the Sierra Club, along with the Power Past Coal Coalition, hosts Beyond Coal volunteer meetings in numerous communities to plan events, update one another on outreach activities and have a good time kicking coal out of Washington. You will meet other like-minded people and find out what you can do to protect our community from dirty and dangerous coal trains.