2024 News archive

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December 2024

12/30 Blog – Chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Check for a burn ban first!

12/23 Blog – Según las muestras, la reciente contaminación ya no se está propagando al agua subterránea en el vertedero de Pasco

12/23 Blog – Samples indicate recent contamination is no longer spreading to groundwater at Pasco Landfill

12/19 News – State and federal agencies respond to public comments, move forward on plans for cleaning up tank waste at Hanford Site

12/17 News – Seattle shipyard penalized $112,000 for water quality violations

12/12 News – Coleman Oil Company fined for spill near Colfax

12/12 News – Seattle and King County penalized for sewer overflow violations

12/11 News – Electric school buses to earn extra credit in 2025

12/10 Blog – New indicator tracks & visualizes ocean acidification in Washington

12/10 News – New rulemaking will reduce plastic and other contamination in compost

12/05 Blog – Do you have hazardous materials outside? Here's how to prepare for winter weather

12/02 News – Industrial sites have new requirements to protect water quality

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November 2024

11/27 News – New report and dashboard show Climate Commitment Act investments

11/26 Blog – From Washington to Iowa, WCC members provide critical flood and wildfire relief

11/26 Blog – Waste less food this holiday season

11/25 Blog – Cleanup crews working quickly to address recent groundwater contamination from Pasco Landfill

11/25 Blog – Las brigadas de limpieza trabajan rápidamente para abordar la reciente contaminación de agua subterránea de Pasco Landfill

11/25 Blog – Grants up to $120,000 educate neighbors about local environmental projects

11/21 Blog – Ecology issues final water quality permit for Everett’s Water Pollution Control Facility

11/21 News – Ecology receives $8.95 million settlement to help reduce air quality impacts from South Tacoma warehouse project

11/21 Blog – Updates to a permit that helps remove noxious weeds

11/20 Blog – Tracking residential wastewater and stormwater rates

11/19 Blog – Washington’s organics management law ramps up business requirements for 2025

11/18 News – Ecology encourages Washingtonians to ‘Use Food Well’ this holiday season

11/18 Blog – Behind the scenes at the Nuclear Waste Program

11/15 News – Washington aces first Climate Commitment Act compliance test

11/13 Blog – Kaiser Aluminum combatting legacy contamination with UV light

11/12 Blog – Rod Hankinson: Washington’s environmental hero and youth mentor for over 30 years

11/04 Blog – Diving into the data on Washington’s water quality

11/01 Blog – From tires to nail polish, we’re studying a new round of consumer products with toxic chemicals

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October 2024

10/30 Blog – Applying for a new water right just got a little easier

10/30 Blog – Keeping Chehalis basin communities safe and prosperous

10/30 Blog – New environmental education program builds connections for refugees and immigrants in Spokane

10/30 Blog – Learning as they go: Walla Walla commits to a greener future with electric school buses

10/28 Blog – Cleaning up: Fieldwork starting in the Duwamish Waterway Park

10/24 Blog – Water Year 2025

10/24 Blog – Slime is the new black for the flabby bristle worm

10/23 Blog – Pilot project takes root with landowners along Hangman Creek

10/23 Blog – Generating buzz: electric school buses have arrived in Walla Walla

10/22 Blog – NextCycle Washington awards $28,000 to circular initiative projects

10/21 Blog – Restoration in action: more trees on the way for Flaming Geyser State Park

10/21 Blog – Cleaning up: Join the conversation on the Boeing Isaacson Thompson cleanup site

10/17 News – Whatcom County farm fined second time for illegal water use

10/16 Blog – Let’s Talk About Merrymaking at Hanford

10/14 News – Environmental penalties issued for first half of 2024

10/11 Blog – Two Seattle sites to be cleaned up for affordable housing

10/10 News – Federal and state agencies seeking new board members to advise on Hanford nuclear cleanup

10/09 Blog – Protecting water across state lines in the Walla Walla basin

10/08 News – Ecology invests $53.5 million to help rivers and streams

10/07 Blog – Raising flood awareness on the cusp of new flood season

10/03 News – Ecology fines 35 plastic producers $416,000 for not using enough recycled plastic

10/01 Blog – New grant program aims to restore, protect Puget Sound riparian areas

10/01 Blog – 2024 Water Year in Review

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September 2024

09/30 Blog – Building homes on former orchard lands

09/30 News – State lays out plan to tackle impacts of climate change in Washington

09/27 News – Public invited to comment on environmental review for Washington’s draft permit for biosolids management

09/26 Blog – Help shape future onshore wind and solar energy projects

09/24 News – Paper mill issued $42,000 penalty for hazardous waste violations

09/23 News – California, Québec and Washington to begin linkage agreement discussions

09/20 Blog – 2024 pollution prevention interns revolutionize practical sustainability

09/19 Blog – Governor visits Washington Conservation Corps restoration crew

09/18 Blog – Keeping your septic system on point

09/18 Blog – New rulemaking aims to reduce “forever chemicals” in consumer products

09/17 News – Ecology proposes adopting federal human health criteria for water quality

09/12 News – Una nueva campaña recuerda a los ciudadanos de Washington que es "Así De Simple" evitar tirar basura en las carreteras.

09/12 News – Preventing litter? New campaign reminds Washingtonians it’s as ‘Simple As That’

09/12 News – Illegal draining of wetlands on Whidbey Island leads to $120,000 penalty

09/09 Blog – Cleaning up remaining contamination at the Unocal Edmonds site

09/05 Blog – Investigating the French Creek orange water mystery

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August 2024

08/30 Blog – Behind the scenes at the Nuclear Waste Program

08/29 News – Community grants available to improve outdoor air for most vulnerable

08/28 Blog – Washington Conservation Corps taps Rebecca Benjamin as new director

08/28 News – Spokane County farmer fined for unpermitted water use

08/27 News – Hanford Advisory Board to meet in Spokane Sept. 10-11, 2024

08/26 Blog – Ecology grants expand charging networks and increase zero-emission vehicles

08/23 Blog – Expanding air monitoring for the 2024 wildfire season

08/22 Blog – Projects for communities, by communities — launching the air quality community grant program

08/21 Blog – Science leads to safer school supplies

08/21 News – Industrial painting company fined $49,000 for hazardous waste violations at Kelso, Longview facilities

08/20 Blog – Salmon restoration project helps strengthen sockeye population in the Yakima Basin

08/19 News – Environmental penalties issued for the fourth quarter of 2023

08/14 News – State sets new limits for toxic chemicals in water

08/12 Blog – Washington auto shops get cleaner, safer degreasers with state funding

08/09 News – Protecting streamflows and fish in the Walla Walla River and Mill Creek

08/08 News – Ecology invites public comment on shoreline management updates for Thurston County

08/07 Blog – Mimicking beaver dams, tackling invasive plants, and preventing harmful algae blooms with Ecology funding

08/06 Blog – New sewer lines, stormwater maps, and septic solutions are adding up to cleaner water

08/06 News – New grants will help Washington landfills reduce methane emissions

08/05 News – Lewis County Commissioner Scott Brummer takes seat on Chehalis Basin Board

08/02 Blog – Washington water supply update

08/02 Blog – Big investments boost Washington's coastal resiliency

08/01 News – 118 wastewater treatment plants across Washington receive Ecology award

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July 2024

07/31 News – Spokane Galvanizing penalized $32,000 for mismanaging dangerous waste

07/30 News – Weyerhaeuser’s Longview lumber mill fined $145,000 for stormwater violations

07/29 Blog – Washington residents can help stop greenwashing under new law

07/26 Blog – Dust storms: how to protect yourself

07/25 News – Ecology upgrades Washington air quality map in time for wildfire smoke season

07/19 Blog – Proposed Port Angeles pilot project seeks to test technology to pull harmful carbon dioxide out of the air 

07/18 Blog – High-quality insects

07/11 News – Lakehaven Water and Sewer District settles penalty for sewage spills

07/10 Blog – Award-winning Eastern Washington program supports farms and clean water

07/09 Blog – Linkage update: Laying the groundwork for connecting carbon markets

07/05 Blog – Washington Water Supply Update

07/02 Blog – Cleaning up: Sampling and dredging in I & J Waterway begins this summer

07/01 Blog – Updated stormwater permits support green infrastructure, clean water

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June 2024

06/28 News – Ecology proposes rulemaking on electricity markets

06/28 News – Washington communities to receive $309 million in clean water funding

06/27 News – The Home Depot penalized $1.6 million for selling restricted hydrofluorocarbon products

06/26 News – Diesel spill from sunken fishing boat in 2022 off San Juan Island leads to penalty

06/25 Blog – North Cove turns the tide

06/25 News – Ecology offers $1.7 million in drought planning and preparedness grants

06/24 News – Seafood company reaches settlement over permit issues

06/24 Blog – How to plan for water use at your Yakima Basin cabin

06/21 News – Ecology releases final environmental review of proposal to rebuild Eightmile Lake Dam

06/20 Blog – Proposed settlement reached to restore habitats in Port Gamble Bay

06/18 News – Ecology orders Walla Walla station owner to continue work to protect community from gas spill

06/17 News – Settlement reached in penalty for Lake Washington Ship Canal fuel spill

06/13 News – Westport seafood plant penalized $222,000 for water quality violations

06/12 Blog – Ecology helps secure $5.4 million to help build coastal resiliency

06/11 News – Proposed plan would guide Washington’s efforts to better prepare for and deal with climate impacts

06/10 Blog – Drought update: water supply in the Yakima Basin and what it means for you

06/07 Blog – It’s #SmokeReady Week in the PNW!

06/06 Blog – Buzz into our next Let's Talk About Hanford

06/06 Blog – New labeling standards will make it easier to determine what packaging is compostable

06/03 News – Washington campaign reminds motorists that securing their load leads to safer travels for everyone

06/03 News – Campaña en Washington recuerda a los conductores que sujetar sus cargas resulta en viajes más seguros para todos

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May 2024

05/29 News – Most EPS foam containers banned from sale and distribution in WA starting June 1

05/24 Blog – The scoop on monitoring for marine beach poop

05/23 Blog – Collaborating for cleaner water: The next step for the Spokane River

05/23 Blog – Changing weather, changing water – it's time to look out for harmful algal blooms

05/22 News – New rulemaking effort aims to keep toxics out of cosmetics

05/21 Blog – Behind the scenes at the Nuclear Waste Program

05/20 News – State and local agencies to host community event focused on Lower Yakima Valley drinking water

05/15 Blog – From forklifts to catch basins, protecting water quality at industrial sites

05/14 Blog – Actualización del proyecto de Área de Gestión de Aguas Subterráneas

05/14 Blog – Getting clean drinking water to the Lower Yakima Valley

05/14 Blog – Environmental justice with boots on the ground

05/13 News – Washington adopts rule to decrease methane emissions from landfills

05/10 News – New approach to determine the natural conditions of Washington’s waters

05/08 Blog – Air Quality Awareness Week: Knowing your air

05/08 Blog – Is there a connection between old concrete and water quality?

05/03 Blog – Cleaning up: Pasco Landfill entering the final phase

05/02 News – Puyallup contractor settles water quality penalty

05/02 Blog – When pee is pollution

05/02 News – Ecology files water rights adjudication in Whatcom County Superior Court

05/01 Blog – Safer cosmetics are coming to a store near you. Here’s what’s happening and why it matters

05/01 Blog – Cleaning up: PFAS contamination in the Lower Issaquah Valley

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April 2024

04/29 Blog – West Point Treatment Plant water quality permit now issued

04/29 News – State of Washington, federal agencies agree on future of tank waste cleanup at Hanford Site

04/26 Blog – Looking back and looking forward on our beach monitoring season

04/23 Blog – Can’t beat the VEAT!

04/22 Blog – Up to $10.7 million is still available for water banking projects

04/22 News – Washington's sustainable business accelerator chooses new projects for support

04/19 Blog – Everyone wins when communities recycle and replace old wood stoves

04/19 News – Preparing Whatcom water users for adjudication

04/18 Blog – Scientists track statewide stream health

04/16 News – Statewide drought declared due to low snowpack and dry forecast

04/12 Blog – Turning bad into good for Washington environment

04/09 Blog – A record year for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Washington

04/08 Blog – Food packaging laws seek to reduce litter and PFAS contamination

04/05 News – Pacific Northwest federal, state agencies to collaborate on prescribed fire, smoke management to confront wildfire crisis

04/04 News – Asphalt manufacturer and distributor penalized $27,000 for violating dangerous waste regulations

04/01 News – Washington Department of Ecology and Coast Guard respond to sunken vessel in Lake Union

04/01 Blog – Banana peel bacon? Use Food Well will change how you think about food waste

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March 2024

03/29 Blog – New budget air filters to hit market

03/28 Blog – Cleaning up: Sampling at Gas Works Park slated to begin in April

03/28 News – 'Use Food Well': New campaign seeks to reduce food waste in Washington

03/28 Blog – Linkage update: California and Québec show interest in a shared carbon market with Washington

03/26 Blog – How to save money on waste disposal

03/26 Blog – Cleaning up: A Avenue Landfill

03/22 Blog – Reflecting on World Water Day and protecting Washington’s freshwater resources

03/20 Blog – Supporting a drier Yakima Basin in 2024

03/20 News – California, Québec and Washington agree to explore linkage

03/14 Blog – We’re bubbling over with joy for the bubble snails

03/12 Blog – Seeking environmental technicians

03/11 News – More than $3 billion approved for Hanford Site cleanup – a new record

03/07 Blog – Comment today on cleanup plans for a closed landfill in Snohomish County

03/07 News – Ecology announces new southwest region director

03/07 Blog – Water Supply Update

03/05 Blog – Thoughts on Hanford

03/01 News – Fish tender fined for fuel spill to Lake Washington Ship Canal

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February 2024

02/29 News – Summer jobs now open for central Washington teens

02/27 Blog – Let’s Talk About the National Park Service’s job at Hanford

02/26 Blog – Not your grandparents' auto shop

02/22 News – Ecology proposes new and updated limits for toxics in water

02/21 News – West Plains residents to receive no-cost drinking water sampling for PFAS

02/13 Blog – Cleaning up: Bellingham waterfront site moves closer to cleanup

02/08 Blog – Behind the scenes at the Nuclear Waste Program

02/02 Blog – World Wetlands Day

02/02 Blog – $386 million in clean water projects planned for Washington

02/01 Blog – July drought declaration still in effect

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January 2024

01/30 Blog – Washington businesses benefit from free, grant-funded Pollution Prevention internships

01/29 Blog – Grant to help build coastal climate resilience

01/26 News – Environmental penalties issued for the third quarter of 2023

01/25 Blog – Questions about the Nooksack adjudication?

01/24 Blog – Boots on the ground: WCC joins new Washington Climate Corps Network

01/23 News – Ecology names new central Washington region director

01/22 Blog – Cleaning up: Removing contaminated sediment at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal

01/19 News – Proposal would require oil handlers, transporters to prove ability to pay for spills

01/17 Blog – Ecology issues the first Washington cap-and-invest offset credits

01/11 Blog – Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned 45 years ago. Why are they still a problem?

01/09 News – Waste disposal company penalized $25,000 for improperly managing dangerous waste

01/08 Blog – Ecology Food Center reduces waste and connects people to healthy food

01/04 Blog – New opportunities to improve Washington’s water cleanup program

01/03 Blog – Share your thoughts and comments on Hanford Site public involvement!

01/02 News – $40 million available for streamflow restoration projects

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