en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved editor@sightline.org ask_us@sightline.org Most recent Washington headlines from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif http://daily.sightline.org 427 69 The Cascade Water Alliance signed an agreement with Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley and Sumner to provide access to drinking water at Lake Tapps as those cities receive state water permits. The deal looks out 50 years. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2011018526_edit09tapps.html Environment Human Health Water Washington 02/09/2010 Seattle Times Beryllium is making too many people sick at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. That's according to a group of stakeholders that advises the Department of Energy (DOE) on how to manage the site. Last Friday, the group asked the federal government for an independent review to find out what's going on with the toxic metal at Hanford. http://kuow.org/program.php?id=19376 Environment Human Health Pollution & Toxics Washington 02/08/2010 KUOW Record numbers of coho have returned to the Columbia River in recent years, and this year forecasters predict the same for spring chinook. But it's not time to pop the champagne corks and declare victory in the nation's most expensive wildlife restoration venture. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/02/columbia_river_salmon_runs_ple.html Salmon Oregon Washington 02/07/2010 Oregonian At Boulder Cave, curiosity has all but killed the bat. In the cave chambers once used for winter hibernation by more than 2,000 bats, there are now mere dozens. And with a deadly fungus wiping out entire bat populations in the eastern United States, the idea of the Pacific Northwest's bats dying off and leaving a gaping void in the ecosystem has become a very real possibility. http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/02/05/02-06-10-bat-survey Environment Wildlife US Northwest Washington 02/05/2010 Yakima Herald-Republic Rookie Bellevue City Councilman Kevin Wallace is proposing an elevated light-rail track along Interstate 405 rather than a tunnel or surface track into downtown Bellevue. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011011433_visionline08m.html Sprawl & Transportation Washington 02/08/2010 Seattle Times Two of the largest economic-stimulus projects in Kitsap County moved into the construction phase on Friday. They are the $7.5-million sewer project to serve the community of Gorst and the $6-million water-treatment plant to serve Bremerton water customers. http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/feb/05/work-begins-on-two-of-kitsaps-biggest-stimulus/ Economy Policy Washington 02/05/2010 Kitsap Sun Earlier this week, globs of black, powdery pollution spread across the Columbia River near Longview. The mile-long spill, first spotted Tuesday morning, turned out to be floating petroleum coke, an estimated 25-pounds worth, according to the US Coast Guard. While the relatively small dump of industrial material likely didn't directly harm fish or wildlife, it's probable source is a company that has a long record of running afoul of rules protecting clean air and water. http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/02/environmental_group_says_mile-.html Environment Pollution & Toxics Oregon Washington 02/05/2010 Oregonian On January 28th, America formally pledged to the UN that it would reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 17% (from what they were in 2005) by 2020. But there was a planet-sized catch. Meeting the target will depend on getting a climate bill through Congress, and that will be horribly hard. http://www.economist.com/world/united-states/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15453166 Climate Environment Policy Washington 02/08/2010 The Economist Urban farmers are challenging city halls across the US to rewrite ordinances that govern residential gardens. They believe feeding their fellow urbanites homegrown tomatoes, fresh eggs, and sweet corn will change the world one backyard at a time. http://www.seattlepi.com/business/1310ap_us_farm_scene_urban_farmers.html?source=rss Environment Food & Farms California United States Washington 02/05/2010 Seattle Post-Intelligencer