This week Seattle unanimously passed a resolution opposing coal exports. Over 100 people packed the hearing hall to show their support for the resolution. Doctors, business owners, ministers, moms and kids, students, and community leaders stood up and testified to the reasons that the City should stand with them to oppose coal exports.

Washington State Sierra Club Chapter Chair, Andy Lewis, addressed the reasons behind the Sierra Club's stance against coal exports, "The Sierra Club opposes coal exports because mining, transporting and burning coal fouls our air, pollutes our water, sickens our children and destroys the environment. Now is the time for communities to weigh in and ensure that every impact to our health, environment and local economies is taken into account when these proposals are considered."

Are you wondering how the world's greatest salmon fishery at Alaska's Bristol Bay can coexist with a gargantuan proposed gold, copper and molybdenum mine? So are we! A recent LA Times article detailed the devastating effect that the proposed Pebble Mine could have on Bristol Bay salmon. The EPA recently added a public hearing on its watershed assessment of Bristol Bay in Seattle. This is the ONLY hearing on this issue in the lower 48 states so let's stand strong and show our support. Bristol Bay, like the Columbia-Snake Basin, is a key part of broad efforts to protect and restore Pacific wild salmon and the jobs and communities that rely upon them. Please join us on Thursday.

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

Learn about this much debated roadless area and the Sierra Club's wilderness proposal.

Saturday, July 28th. We are planning three hikes in the scenic mountains NE of Cle Elum.

From moderate to more strenuous:

1. the basalt canyon of the West Fork Teanaway

2.secluded Esmerelda Basin on the edge of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

3. and 6,400' Miller Peak with spectacular views of Mt. Stuart.

Due to length of the drive to these trailheads, this will be an all day event. From Seattle, plan to leave by 8:00am and return after 7:00pm.

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.

As part of the Washington State chapter’s yearly planning process, club members developed five strategic conservation campaigns that we will drive with our volunteers in 2012: Marine Ecosystems, Columbia River Future, Sustainable Transportation, Resilient Habitats, and the Coal-Free Northwest campaign. Read on to learn more about each campaign's goals and how you can help.

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.