There are a number of items competing for the top of the environmental news -- some positive, some worrisome. Here they are, with pointers:
State of Washington puts Puget Sound on 'waters of concern' list. In a report to the EPA, the state Department of Ecology cites the threat of ocean acidification to sea life. Oceans naturally absorb CO2, but mankind's CO2 output has the oceans working overtime. Too much CO2 lowers ocean pH, interfering with the food chain by altering the development of key species.
Property wrongs. On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court
heard arguments in the case of Michael and Chantell Sackett, a pair from Idaho who cherrypicked the biologist reports they liked in order to justify filling in a wetland so they could build a house. They're arguing to the Court that the EPA shouldn't be able to issue protection orders that could -- not will -- impose substantial fines if the damage is not undone. In other words, this pair of spuds want to make it safe for people to flout the law, and strip the EPA of the power to do anything about it. Of course all the Corporate People are rooting for the Sacketts -- and at least four of them sit on the high court.
Who's spewing? An example of why we need the EPA is this new online database that ties greenhouse gas data to Google Maps.
I give Gov. Gregoire 10 points for a $3.6 billion transportation plan that includes a small per barrel fee on oil produced in-state -- but I take away several hundred points from her for not mentioning biking or pedestrians in the plan.
There are only 300 whooping cranes left -- and as if that isn't bad enough, they're facing serious trouble in Texas.
Finally, something that offers some hope: a clip of a river otter scampering around new habitat in the Duwamish Superfund cleanup area:
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