Latest news with #DepartmentofEcology
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Canadian wildfire smoke impacts Southern Tier air quality
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)— The Southern Tier was under an air quality advisory for 'fine particulate matter' because of the smoke from the wildfires burning in Canada on Saturday, June 7. Doctors are recommending that people stay aware of the effects of unhealthy air conditions in the area. 'Smoke has started to move in because of the Canadian wildfires, and what we have been seeing these days with lots of sunshine and dry conditions, which makes it a lot easier for that smoke to move into our region,' said Alivia Colón, 18 Storm team meteorologist One injured after house fire breaks out in Village of Savona on Sunday There are several ways to determine if air quality is affecting an individual. The impact can occur over time. 'You may hear increased wheezing, moving around becomes a lot more challenging, such as climbing stairs or hills, you may also have other signs of irritation, such as cough, throat irritation, and other allergy-type symptoms,' said Bradley DeWitt, Centralus Health Physician Assistant. Air quality affects everyone, even if it doesn't seem to do so. According to the Department of Ecology, State of Washington, exposure to smoke in the air can make existing heart and lung conditions worse. NYSDEC issues air quality advisory for Southern Tier, Finger Lakes on Saturday & Sunday 'Smoke is smoke, it's not great for anybody's lungs, so I think when the air quality alert is issued, I think in general you should limit your time spent outside,' said Colón. It is especially important for older individuals and people with pre-existing health conditions are more susceptible to stay up to date on air quality. For more information on the air quality in your area, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
SPU alerts people to the harm of illegally dumping tires
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) says it's cracking down on the illegal dumping of used tires. The issue has increased by 82% since 2022 The department says that in 2024, there were more than 1,400 illegally dumped tires found in greenbelts, public rights-of-way, and other community spaces. The city spent $2.9 million in general funds on the cleanup of illegal dumping, including tires. According to the Department of Ecology, tires can cause soil contamination, attract rodents, and hold water, which can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 'We're committed to working with the community to share resources and raise awareness about how to properly dispose of used tires,' said Lee Momon, Director of SPU's Seattle Clean City program. SPU says you can help by preventing illegal dumping from happening. They say you can ask your local tire shop to recycle your tires after buying new ones. You can also drop off tires at North or South transfer stations, or find proper disposal locations by calling 1-800-RECYCLE or visiting
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA farmers get their gas tax exemption. Ferguson signs key bill in Tri-Cities
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson reaffirmed that agriculture is exempt from fuel taxes related to the Climate Commitment Act at an unusual bill signing in Kennewick on Thursday. The Democrat signed 11 bills into law during a swing through the Tri-Cities. Typically, the governor signs bills passed by lawmakers in a conference room outside his office in Olympia. But Ferguson said it was important to visit communities around the state. The bills signed reflect East side priorities, none more pressing that sorting through the confusion that led to farmers paying fuel charges despite being exempt. The ag fuel exemption has been a priority for the industry since Washington implemented its Climate Commitment Act in 2023. The act aims to curb the state's greenhouse gas emissions and included a cap-and-trade system to raise money to invest in sustainable industry. Agriculture was supposed to be exempt. In reality, farmers paid the fees on both gasoline and diesel and had to apply for rebates. The problem was particularly acute for small farmers who fuel up at retail stations, according to Capital Press. Cap-and-trade fees raise costs at the pump as distributors pass the costs on to both gasoline and diesel customers. Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, sponsored a fix. Co-sponsors include Tri-Cities Republican Reps. Stephanie Barnard and April Connors. The bill, officially Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No 1912, exempts fuel used both on- and off the farm from climate commitment fees. It also directs the state Department of Ecology to identify locations where ag operators may purchase exempt fuel, rather than applying for rebates later. Dent served as co-chair for Ferguson's agricultural subcommittee as he transitioned into office. He said the incoming governor pledged to support his work to address the fuel charge problem. Dent traveled to the Tri-Cities to stand next to the governor as he signed the bill. The fuel tax bill was a 'heavy lift,' Dent said. 'The governor kept his word.' Ferguson called it a 'great' bill and said he was pleased to honor the Climate Commitment Act's promise to exempt agriculture from the fees. The bill passed 93-4 in the House in March and 49-0 in the Senate on April 16. Ferguson signed 10 other bills at a crowded ceremony hosted by the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC). Senate Bill 5543. The bill, sponsored by Tri-Cities Republican Sen. Matt Boehnke, expands eligibility for college scholarships. House Bill 1253 allowing public utilities to enter joint use agreements with private companies. House Bill 1258: The Spokane-focused bill clarifies how the city and county share fees for the regional 911 system. House Bill 1648 clarifies child care provider qualifications. House Bill 1934 redacts personally identifying information from certain records released under the Public Records Act. House Bill 936 makes it easier for retired school employees to work in schools Senate Bill 5305 provides additional time to carry out the Yakima River basin integration plan. Senate Bill 5323 enhances penalties related to the theft and possession of property stolen from first responders. Senate Bill 5485 extends the state's livestock identification program. Senate Bill 5682 concerns the state's employment training program.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington bill would fine noncompliant landfills; Waste Connections faces lawsuit
This story was originally published on Waste Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Waste Dive newsletter. A Washington bill that could add a new level of approval to landfill permits and give local authorities the ability to enforce fines for noncompliance has reached the governor's desk. If approved, it would increase scrutiny of facilities that community groups say is overdue. The bill would apply to any permits issued after Aug. 1, 2027, and would require the Department of Ecology to give the final approval of any landfill permit. The department would have the ability to deny or require amendments to such permits, which a local health department could opt to appeal. Either the Department of Ecology or local health departments could also issue a daily fine up to $5,000 for the first two weeks a landfill is in non-compliance with its permit, which can increase to up to $10,000 per day after that time period. Finally, the bill would require local health departments to submit lists of landfill violations to the Department of Ecology every five years, beginning in 2026. The state legislature sent HB 1154 to Gov. Bob Ferguson on April 23. The governor has 20 days after that date to sign the bill into law. His office did not respond to a request for comment. HB 1154 earned support from legislators amid ongoing landfill issues, including two fires in Yakima County. The bill has been supported by groups like Friends of Rocky Top, a community organization that has criticized management of the Anderson Landfill in Yakima that was acquired by DTG Recycle in 2019. The company, itself bought by Macquarie Asset Management in 2022, had to close the facility for more than a year and reopened it in December. Macquarie did not respond to a request for comment. Scott Cave, a lobbyist who works with Friends of Rocky Top and supports the bill, said the existing system to regulate landfills doesn't work. Local health departments are typically tasked with approving permits and enforcing compliance, but they lack the resources to do so effectively, he said. 'There was no tool in the tool shed for local governments to say, 'Hey, bring this into compliance,'" Cave said. He said the bill, if signed, could change that. A lawsuit seeking to halt expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill in Pennsylvania can proceed, Northampton County Judge Abraham Kassis ruled on April 16. The ruling dismisses several motions to dismiss charges brought by Bethlehem Landfill Co., a subsidiary of Waste Connections. The lawsuit was brought against the company by a residents group and is supported by Bethlehem Township and a local hospital campus. Lower Saucon Township, which approved a zoning change to remove a conservation easement and allow the expansion, is also a defendant. The expansion plan would involve 86 acres of new disposal area, Lehigh Valley News reported. In order to facilitate that expansion, the township voted to remove conservation easements across more than 200 acres of forested area on the landfill's northeastern border. That action drew objections from nearby residents, leading to the lawsuit. Waste Connections must now respond to the merits of the lawsuit following the judge's ruling. The landfill has paid more than $2 million in host fee payments and funds 25% of the Lower Saucon Township budget, according to a company website. A local planning commission recommended Cumberland County, Virginia, deny plans for a new landfill serving the central and southwestern portions of the state. The facility proposed by an affiliate of GFL Environmental, would accept up to 1,500 tons per day of MSW, C&D waste and certain industrial wastes, but threatens a historic school, according to community groups. (WRIC) Meanwhile, Hanover County, Virginia's board of supervisors approved the expansion of the Ashcake Road Landfill. The landfill is owned by Leadbetter, and would add about 30 acres of construction waste disposal. (WRIC) A class action lawsuit filed by three residents of Tontitown, Arkansas, alleges that WM's Eco-Vista Landfill has harmed the plaintiffs' daily lives and property values with 'noxious orders.' A lawyer for the residents said they were unsuccessful in seeking relief through government channels. (5 News) Casella has filed a lawsuit against the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for denying a permit for the proposed Dalton Landfill project. The case centers around the regulator allegedly closing the application because it was incomplete. (Concord Monitor) Recommended Reading Republic to up landfill odor measures in California; Seneca Meadows expansion debate
Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Inside most secret radioactive site in US said to be 'Chernobyl in making'
The Hanford Site in Washington saw more than 400 billion gallons of contaminated liquid dumped into its ground during its use - and now it could be developed as an AI development hub A huge radioactive site which is planted on almost 600 acres of desert land has been compared to an "underground Chernobyl" with warnings that it is a disaster waiting to happen. The Hanford Site in Washington, US, was constructed during World War II and is known as one of the country's most radioactive chemical contamination sites. The area was built as part of the Manhattan Project, where workers made plutonium to put together an explosive which was eventually set off in Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. According to experts, the site's most hazardous waste is hidden in the tanks and unlined trenches. Washington's Department of Ecology has warned that there are 177 leaky storage tanks buried on the property, holding 56 million gallons of radioactive waste. Now, the site has been proposed as a potential location for AI development by the Department of Energy. Richland has been included on the list as it is home to the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which could result in a partnership with developers on advanced hardware for next-generation data centres and power systems needed to run them. The 295 acres in Richland, however, is former Hanford nuclear site land, which was transferred to the Department via the Tri-City Development Council to the city of Richland in 2015 to be developed as part of a new Advanced Clean Energy Park. But the land has a long, deadly, history. The toxic facility was so dangerous that it was nicknamed "death mile" in 1985 after local farmers were being diagnosed with cancers. The string of incidents was linked back to the residents breathing in the chemical, Iodine 131. Iodine 131 is used in medicine to treat thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. Government officials gave locals a mere 30 days to leave the area, with residents being paid for their land. However, indigenous tribes weren't given any compensation. The War Powers Act which was put in place prior to its 1973 resolution allowed the government to use land for military purposes. Under the act, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt acquired over 600 square miles of land. The shock request saw up to 55,000 men and women taken to the area to start work on the undercover development. A lot of them knew very little about what they were working on, with most being unaware it was for the war. It was reported that only 5 per cent actually knew why they were hired. The secret workers were given access to almost ten dining halls, a hospital, a post office, barbershops and a cinema. The Department of Ecology revealed that they were also given entry into dance halls and bowling alleys to keep them entertained outside of working hours. It was reported that its first full-scale plutonium production reactor was finalised within 13 months. The operation was launched in 1944. Physicist Leona Libby, 23, and her team created the first nuclear chain reaction which later helped create the bomb. Once the explosive was released, the workers were given further insight into the circumstances behind the project. After WWII had finished, the production site continued its operation during the Cold War. In 1963, the last reactor was constructed. When the site was in use, more than 400 billion gallons of contaminated liquids were dumped into the ground. According to the Department of Ecology, that dumped material then came into contact with groundwater and even reached parts of the Columbia River. The Department of Ecology was launched in 1970 and assessed any concerns surrounding the site. By 1989, it was forced to close its doors due to a potential red flag which was highlighted in 1987. Despite, discussions about clean-up efforts taking place, the Hanford Site is still viewed as an environmental concern.
