News

From the Washington Stormwater Center

It's a new month, so let's start it together at Green Drinks! Green Drinks is a great place to gather monthly, hear the latest in Tacoma’s green scene, and meet new folk. Each month has a different non-profit host, and this month’s host is the Washington Stormwater Center.

The charge to create Washington Stormwater Center was organized by stormwater-minded individuals, businesses, jurisdictions, agencies, and nonprofits with the goal to work toward our mission: To protect Washington’s waters through improvements in stormwater management, serving as the central resource in Washington for integrated NPDES education, permit technical assistance, stormwater management and new technology research, development, and evaluation. They help our state navigate the complexities and challenges of stormwater management. And they provides assistance, information resources, and training on stormwater management. Also, Washington Stormwater Center provides a gateway to research, information and new, innovative, and emerging technologies.

Come learn more about them at this month's green drink event!

   

Who: Washington Stormwater Center

When: 6 PM Thurs Feb 7

Where: The Swiss - 1904 Jefferson Ave, Tacoma, Washington 98402

From the Pierce County Council

See Feb 4 - 8 Meeting Schedule Here

AGENDA

PUBLIC HEARINGS BY THE PIERCE COUNTY HEARING EXAMINER

Pierce County Public Services Building (Annex), Public Meeting Room, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma, WA 98409

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019

HEARING TIME: 1:00 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE:

Project: Conditional Use Permit / Site Plan Review: SR 162 Mini Storage

Applications: 885015, 885014, 885016

Online Address: https://palsonline.co.pierce.wa.us/palsonline/#/permitSearch/permit/departmentStatus?applPermitId=885015

Applicant: John Harkness, Meridian 188 LLC

Planner: Dan Buhl, dan.buhl@piercecountywa.gov

Request: Construct a three story, approximately 100,000 sq.-ft. mini-storage facility consisting of 830 units and an associated office. The property has a Rural Neighborhood Center (RNC) zoning classification and is within the Alderton-McMillin Community Plan area, located at 12627 State Route 162 East, Puyallup, WA, in Council District #2.

HEARING TIME: 2:00 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE:

Project: Preliminary Plat / Administrative Design Review: B Street East Development

Applications: 879469, 879472

Online Address: https://palsonline.co.pierce.wa.us/palsonline/#/permitSearch/permit/departmentStatus?applPermitId=879469

Applicant: Dick Irwin

Planner: Robert Jenkins, rob.jenkins@piercecountywa.gov

Request: Divide a 4.83-acre site into 18 single-family lots, with a minimum single-family lot size of 4,609 sq. ft. and an average lot size of 6,236 sq. ft. The plat includes:

1) a 1.66-acre wetland, wetland buffer, and floodplain open space tract on the east end of the site; and

2) a public road.

The plat will be served by public water, sanitary sewers, and a public road, and will be accessed from B Street East. The site is in the Moderate Density Single-Family (MSF) zone classification and Parkland-Spanaway-Midland Communities Plan area, located at 18605 “B St. E., Spanaway, WA, in Council District #3.

Note: The Hearing Examiner’s decision is final unless appealed. Please call (253) 798-7210 for further information.

01 30 19 AGE

AGENDA

PUBLIC HEARINGS BY THE PIERCE COUNTY HEARING EXAMINER

Pierce County Public Services Building (Annex), Public Meeting Room, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma, WA 98409

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019

HEARING TIME: 9:00 A.M.

Project: Administrative Appeal: Gordon

Application: 900040

Online Address: https://palsonline.co.pierce.wa.us/palsonline/#/permitSearch/permit/departmentStatus?applPermitId=900040

Appellant: Anthony Gordon

County Staff: Stephen Mauer, Stephen.mauer@piercecountywa.gov

Request: Appeal of a Final Notice and Order to Correct, and Notice of Violation and Abatement, dated November 26, 2018, by a Pierce County Administrative Official. The parcel is in the Urban Moderate Density Single Family (MSF) zone classification and Parkland-Spanaway-Midland Communities Plan area, located at 121 - 165th St. E., Tacoma, WA, in Council District #3.

HEARING TIME: 1:00 P.M., OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS POSSIBLE:

Project: Shoreline Substantial Development Permit / Shoreline Conditional Use Permit: Barker

Applications: 896386, 896390, 896392

Online Address: https://palsonline.co.pierce.wa.us/palsonline/#/permitSearch/permit/departmentStatus?applPermitId=896396

Applicants: Tom and Elise Barker

Planner: Ty Booth, ty.booth@piercecountywa.gov

Request: Accessory to a single-family residence, construct a beach access aerial tram that would descend approximately 300 ft. down a steep slope to the beach. A previous proposal also included constructing a dock and stairs; however, they are no longer proposed. The site is in a Conservancy Shoreline Environment, Rural 10 (R10) zone classification, and Anderson Island/Ketron Island Community Plan area, located at 10005 Totem Way, on the east shoreline of Anderson Island, in Council District 6.

Note: The Hearing Examiner’s decision is final unless appealed. Please call (253) 798-7210 for further information.

02 06 19 AGE

AGENDA

PUBLIC HEARINGS BY THE PIERCE COUNTY HEARING EXAMINER

Pierce County Public Services Building (Annex), Public Meeting Room, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma, WA 98409

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019

HEARING TIME: 10:00 A.M.

Project: Shoreline Substantial Development Permit: Straub

Applications: 886402, 886403

Online Address: https://palsonline.co.pierce.wa.us/palsonline/#/permitSearch/permit/departmentStatus?applPermitId=886402

Applicants: Carl and Sarah Straub

Planner: Dan Buhl, dan.buhl@piercecountywa.gov

Request: Install a 64-ft. long dock consisting of a 3-ft. by 54-ft. fiberglass grated ramp, and an 8-ft. by 24-ft. float. Two smaller pin piling will secure the ramp, and four galvanized steel piling will secure the dock. The total overwater coverage is 312 sq. ft. The site is in the Rural 10 (R10) zone classification and Rural-Residential Shoreline Environment, within the Gig Harbor Peninsula Community Plan area, located at 550 North Shore Blvd, Fox Island, in Council District #7.

Note: The Hearing Examiner’s decision is final unless appealed. Please call (253) 798-7210 for further information.

02 13 19 AGE

AGENDA

PUBLIC HEARINGS BY THE PIERCE COUNTY HEARING EXAMINER

Pierce County Public Services Building (Annex), Public Meeting Room, 2401 S. 35th St., Tacoma, WA 98409

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019

HEARING TIME: 3:00 P.M.

Project: Variance: Anderson

Applications: 895535

Online Address: https://palsonline.co.pierce.wa.us/palsonline/#/permitSearch/permit/departmentStatus?applPermitId=895535

Applicant: Braden Anderson

Planner: Andrew Van Gordon, andrew.vangordon@piercecountywa.gov

Request: Variance to reduce the front yard setback from 25 ft. to 10 ft. from the foundation of the new proposed 576-sq. ft. garage. The site is in the Rural 10 (R10) zone classification, located at 2713 176th Ave. E., Lake Tapps, WA, in Council District #1.

Note: The Hearing Examiner’s decision is final unless appealed. Please call (253) 798-7210 for further information.

02 20 19 AGE

• ·         Bring citizen participation into implementation of Tacoma’s Environmental Action Plan
• ·         Encourage public involvement in sustainability issues

Membership*:

• ·         Consists of eleven members who are appointed by the Mayor and City Council
• ·         Includes a balanced representation of stakeholders, such as the environmental community, small business, labor, housing, industry and port, transportation, education, building industry, and residents
• *Applicants with experience with food insecurity or interest in sustainable food systems are encouraged

Requirements:

• ·         Be able to attend monthly meetings: fourth Thursday of every month, 4:30-6:30pm, at Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street)

Apply by January 30:

• ·         cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication
• ·         Or, contact: Jessica Jenkins at (253) 591-5178 or servetacoma@cityoftacoma.org
• ·         Or, visit the City Clerk’s Office, 733 Market St., Room 11, Tacoma, WA 98402

 

Staff Contact:

Patrick Babbitt

Sustainability Office

253.591.5173 / pbabbitt@cityoftacoma.org

This is notice of the Economic and Infrastructure Development Committee and final Council hearings on Proposal No. 2019-3. 

An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Granting Supplemental Franchise No. 1 to the City of Bonney Lake, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Washington, for Location of Sanitary Sewer Pipelines on Certain County-Owned Rights-of-Way; and Authorizing the County Executive to Execute Said Franchise. 

The Final Council hearing on this proposal is set for Tuesday, February 19, 2019, at 3:00 pm. The final Council hearing will be held in Room 1045, County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave S, in Tacoma. 

The Economic and Infrastructure Development Committee hearing is set for Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. Use the following link for the weekly Council Meeting Schedule, which includes the Committee hearing agenda, location and time: 

http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/index.aspx?NID=1430 

Use the following link for Proposal information, including hearing dates and related documents: 

http://online.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/council/iview/proposal.cfm?proposal_num=2019-3 

You are receiving this email because your email address is on one or more of the Council's interested parties lists for related issues. If you signed up for notification via the County's online Notify Me service, you can amend your account and remove or modify notifications by topic here: 

http://online.co.pierce.wa.us/cfapps/Internet/account/login.cfm 

For more information or assistance in modifying your notification preferences, please use the email below. 

Jenifer Schultz, Committee Clerk 
Pierce County Council 
(253) 798-6696 
pccouncil@co.pierce.wa.us 

January 2019

Follow Tacoma Sustainabilityon Facebook   Join theEnviroNewsemail list January Fix-It-Fair |Saturday, January 19, 1-4pm, Second Use Building Materials, 2328 Fawcett Ave | Fix-it Fairs are free, community-based events where you can get items repaired for free. Fixable items include jewelry, crockery, clothing, small appliances, furniture, toys and electronics. MLK Day Celebration and Community Fair |Monday, January 21 27, 10am-1pm, Greater Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Commerce| The 31th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Birthday Celebration in Tacoma will once again bring the community together to celebrate Monday, January 21, 2019, as a day on, not a day off. The free event kicks off with a community outreach fair from 10-11 a.m. and the main MLK Celebration event will start at 11 a.m. Tacoma Creates Community Conversation |Wednesday, January 23, 6-8pm, Theater on the Square, 915 Broadway | Join fellow Tacomans who care about making Tacoma a culturally vibrant and innovative community for an evening of conversations about increasing and improving arts, science, heritage, and culture in our community. Tacoma Green Drinks |Thursday, February 7, 6-9pm, Location TBD | Join this fun and casual networking event where you can catch a different eco-friendly topic at a different bar in Tacoma every month. The February host is the Washington Stormwater Center. Sustainable Tacoma Commission | Meets every 4th Thursday, 4:30PM to 6:30PM, at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St. Room 243 | Free and open to the public. EnviroChallengers | The EnviroChallengers bring free, engaging, and high-quality environmental science lessons to public and private schools all around Tacoma. Available for second through eighth grade classrooms. Healthy Homes, Healthy Neighborhoods | Providing resources and opportunities to address big environmental challenges on a small scale, one neighborhood at a time. Sustainability Speaker Series | Schedule a member of the OEPS team to present on a variety of sustainability topics for your organization or group. Call (253) 591-5172 to book. Tacoma Green Living Guide | This interactive map features many of Tacoma’s resources and efforts toward more sustainable living. Find information about how to get around, where to find locally grown food, places to enjoy nature in the city, and more.   The City of Tacoma EnviroHouse is a permanent model home showcasing green building and natural landscape ideas, materials and techniques to create a healthy home and planet. Upcoming Workshops Electric Vehicles: Why Now; What to Know Saturday, January 19, 10:30 AM Organic Fruit Tree Selection, Planting and Care Saturday, January 26, 1:30 PM Solatube Natural Daylight with DIY Install Demo  Saturday, February 2, 10:30 AM EnviroShorts Learn about the City of Tacoma’s waste management resources. Urban Green City of Tacoma’s sustainable highlights, from businesses to parks. Tacoma Report EcoArchive of videos featuring the City of Tacoma’s green livability. EnviroHouse How-To'sGet the step by step on DIY sustainable projects you can do around the house. For over a decade, the South Sound Sustainability Expo has been the regional destination event for community members, non-profits, businesses, and government agencies to come together for a day of all-things sustainability! This year, we invite you to join us at the 12th annual South Sound Sustainability Expo on Saturday, March 2 from 10am-3pm at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. New this year, the Expo will feature a Fix-It-Fair, sponsored by Zero Waste Washington and the Tacoma Tool Library. Bring your broken jewelry, small appliances, toys, or electronics to get fixed by a knowledgeable and experienced community member. The best part about the Fix-It Fair? It’s absolutely free! Connect with over a hundred sustainability-minded vendors and organizations, participate in interactive workshops, and learn more about what you can do to create a more vibrant and sustainable South Sound. Get updates on the 12th Annual South Sound Sustainability Expo by following our Facebook event page.   Since the launch of the Sustainability Small Grant program in early 2018, OEPS has been delighted to support 15 projects and programs dedicated to protecting and restoring our environment. Each of our grant recipients has demonstrated long lasting benefits to the community through their projects, and we look forward to seeing what the next year of small grant awardees will accomplish! The 2018 awardees include: Washington Green School’s “Zombie Guacamole” program, which introduced 5th grade students in Tacoma to the cycle of matter and energy in an ecosystem, and food waste prevention strategies; The Sustainability Summit for South Sound Women in Business which brought together 60 women for a day-long conference focusing on the intersection of women in business and sustainability; and the Salishan Children’s Summer Eco-Camp, which was a free, week-long day camp for children ages 5-12. Learn more about the 2018 Small Grant Awardees completed projects here. A new round of Sustainability Small Grant applications is now open! If you or your organization has an idea to help educate residents and/or businesses on the environment and sustainable practices, we encourage you to apply.   Last year, China banned the import of most paper and plastic for recycling. Much of the material they were receiving was considered unsuitable because it either too difficult (not able to be easily remade into new products) or too dirty to recycle. Recycling markets around the globe are feeling the impacts of the ban and are working to adjust. The increased cost of processing and lower market values make Tacoma’s recycling program more expensive to operate. Tacoma's Solid Waste Management is exploring options to offset increased costs. We want to hear from Tacoma residents about our proposed changes. The City is beginning an ambitious community outreach and engagement campaign to gather feedback for the City Council about proposed changes. Please check our website for regular updates on these changes, more information on what is recyclable, and other ways to get involved with the process! Interested in getting involved? Contact Preston Peck, Project Specialist  ppeck@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 593-7707 What is better than free? Free for life. The benefits of a Grit City tree are free of charge to residents of Tacoma and may very well last for generations to come. This past year, Tacoma’s Urban Forestry program distributed 433 street trees across the city to 172 recipients. To receive a tree through this community building program, residents submitted an application along with a willingness to plant and take responsibility for the tree after it’s received. Beyond just planting trees, this program really shines by bringing people together. Planting parties in neighborhoods and at schools built community around planting new street trees for everyone to enjoy. Here at OEPS, we hope that your neighborhood can join us next year to help make Tacoma a greener, happier, and healthier city. Stay tuned to the Grit City Trees webpage for updates on next year’s program.   Last fall, OEPS welcomed three new AmeriCorps members to our office. As members of the sustainability team, each is responsible for coordinating specific community outreach and environmental education initiatives to help move forward specific programs within OEPS. (Pictured from left to right) Abi Vanover is originally from Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in Energy and Environmental Policy and a bachelor’s in Economics. At OEPS, she leads coordination of the 2019 South Sound Sustainability Expo, and supports a number of other communication programs – from the Bring Your Own Mug campaign to managing the Tacoma Sustainability Facebook page. Arin Lewis also comes to Tacoma from Pennsylvania, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical and Environmental Geography with a minor in Sustainability Leadership from Penn State University. Arin works with our Urban Forestry team on the Grit City Trees and Tree Coupon programs. His focus is to help raise awareness about the biology and benefits of trees, and to increase the number of trees planted in Tacoma - working toward the goal of increasing tree canopy cover from approximately 19 percent to 30 percent by 2030. Elizabeth Purington hails from Massachusetts, and recently graduated from Brown University with a major in Biology. Elizabeth works with our Solid Waste team to address the City of Tacoma’s goal of 70% waste diversion by 2028, focusing specifically on food waste - which is the number one material in Tacoma’s waste stream. She engages Tacoma residents through programming like the “Food: Too Good to Waste” challenge and other community and special events. She is also working to develop a food waste reduction challenge for local businesses to be launched in 2019. The Healthy Homes, Healthy Neighborhoods (HHHN) program works to address big challenges on a small scale - one neighborhood at a time. By engaging with community groups and visiting hundreds of local households each year, HHHN works to help Tacoma community members cut everyday costs, improve household health, and make Tacoma a better place to live. Program services span home repairs and improvements, energy and water conservation, trees and gardening, and sustainable transportation and waste reduction. Next month, HHHN is pleased to be welcoming a new AmeriCorps Member to coordinate our 2019 program focused in the Eastside. Still in early planning, the program will engage community members between March and July 2019 about eco-friendly, cost-saving resources available here in Tacoma. Visit our website for more information about Healthy Homes, Healthy Neighborhoods, or email Patrick Babbitt at pbabbitt@cityoftacoma.org.   Spring and summer are just around the corner, which means community special events season will be in full swing! In an effort to further the sustainability vision for our community, events of all sizes are encouraged to participate in the City of Tacoma Green Event Program. The Green Event Program ensures that participating community events take extra care to be more sustainable by incorporating green initiatives like providing bike racks, using 30-100% recycled content paper, encouraging proper recycling, donating excess food, and more. All events within Tacoma city limits may apply for Green Event certification and Environmental Services Event Support for material goods or in-kind services, such as garbage, recycling and portable toilets. If you're planning a community event this year, learn more about the Green Event Program here.   Did you know that 72% of coffee purchases in Tacoma involve a single-use cup? Surprising to many, single-use coffee cups (paper or styrofoam) are not recyclable in most municipalities, including Tacoma (due to a thin plastic layer on the inside in the case of paper cups). In response, OEPS partnered with 16 local coffee shops in October 2018 to reduce waste from single-use coffee cups. Participating shops agreed to adjust their business practices to cut waste on their side, and offered a discount to customers who brought their own mug. 64% of participating shops reported an increase in customers bringing their own mug, and one shop reported a spike in reusable mug use by 65%. We encourage you to lose that "paper flavor" and switch to reusable to save! Visit our Bring Your Own Mug page to see local coffee shops with “BYOM” discounts every day. Know of a shop with a “BYOM” discount? Get them listed on our page by contacting sustainability@cityoftacoma.org. Does your organization or group want to learn more about environmental sustainability? The Sustainability Speaker Series features presentations on topics related to Tacoma's vision of a healthy, vibrant, and environmentally sustainable community. Designed to be viewed online at your own pace, or to be presented by members of OEPS staff at events or group meetings, our topics include Our Changing Climate, Food: Too Good to Waste; Electric Vehicles, Urban Forestry, and more! Schedule by calling (253) 591-5172 or emailingsustainability@cityoftacoma.org.

CVA Newsletter #42, December 2018

In its 14th year, the Donkey Creek Chum Festival attracted 850 visitors to the Harbor History Museum and CVA was there!

Key Peninsula/Peninsula/Islands Watershed Council Nets

$10,000 from Cider Swig Proceeds For Lu Winsor Grants

Barbara Ann Smolko of Surface Water Management accepts a check from the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation Board President Jud Morris.

With matching County funds and Peninsula Light donations, KGI will award around $25,000 in 2019 to individuals and groups who aim to enhance the natural environment through education or restoration projects in our area.

The next application round will be announced in March.

Watch for it on the KGI Watershed Council Facebook Page.

A Community Plan Amendment on native plant canopy is working its way through county hearings, next up is the Planning Commission, TBA in January.

PROPOSED AMENDMENT, Gig Harbor Community Plan, pg. E104

Goal GH ENV-14 The goal for tree canopy coverage shall be 75% within the Urban Sensitive Resource Overlay and the Rural Sensitive Resource zone to implement the Peninsula Open Space Corridors map.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff supports the proposal. Staff supports the proposal based on the following:

The proposal is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and Community Plan goals and

policies for the maintenance and restoral of native vegetation in the Rural Sensitive

Resource and the Urban Sensitive Resource Zones.

The Gig Harbor Community Plan’s direction to preserve native vegetation is supported

by supplemental plans such as the adopted Crescent Valley Biodiversity Management

Area (BMA) Stewardship Plan, which covers a large portion of the area that the policy

would apply to.

Our Crescent Valley Rural Sensitive Reserve area, farms and all, currently measures at 80% canopy coverage. Yay! (See CVA’s website to find the description on page 43 of the Stewardship Plan.) Besides enhancing our own properties, native plant canopy provides our neighbors these Public Benefits:

1. Free storm water management services. (i.e., slowing the rate of runoff, sending potential pollutants deep into the soil.)

2. Free aquifer recharge. (i.e., percolating rainwater deep through soil layers.)

3. Free anti-erosion services. (i.e., stabilizing slopes with root systems better and cheaper than bulkheading.)

4. Free cooling and warming services to our northwest soils and streams, as well as to our homes. (i.e., buffering the effects of strong winds, hard frosts, and droughts.)

5. Wildlife habitat. Our human developments punch holes in the web of life that grows timber and sustains salmon. Homes for birds, insects, and wild mammals are essential to preserve what our Community Plan calls “the nature of our community.” Neither the land, nor the nearshore, nor Puget Sound can remain healthy without preservation of substantial tree canopy.

6. Wildlife corridors. Wildlife must move from one type of habitat to another as the seasons change. Connected streams of tree canopy across our peninsula must be maintained because isolated patches of trees do not provide ecosystem services for wildlife or for us humans.

7. Human health and well-being. Trees scrub the air we breathe of pollutants while exchanging CO2 for oxygen. They cool and calm the human spirit.

8. Aesthetically pleasing surrounds. As much as the waters of the Salish Sea, trees are our view and our land value.

9. Carbon dioxide sequestration. Trees are an ally in reducing the percentage of the planet-heating CO2 in the mix of air we breathe.

Gosh, I hope I covered it all. (And did you know that some parcels larger than 2 acres can qualify for a tax rate reduction for providing these public benefits?) If you have questions or are interested in seeing the entire PDF for this amendment proposal, email Lucinda, WingardJL@hotmail.com

Draft of the New Buildable Lands document:

Buildable-Lands-Draft-2.pdf

On Tuesday, October 30, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency will be hosting a Public Hearing on their SEIS regarding Tacoma's proposed LNG facility. CHB has a message for PSCAA: Citizens for a Healthy Bay stands in opposition to the LNG facility. The information in the SEIS is alarming and the project poses unacceptable environmental risks to Tacoma. We urge PSCAA to update the SEIS, reissue it when it is complete and credible, and then re-open the public comment period.  Read our full letter to PSCAA stating our opposition below. October 25, 2018 Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) ATTN: Public Comment on DSEIS, PSE LNG Project 1904 Third Ave, Suite 105 Seattle, WA 98101 publiccomment@pscleanair.org Hello, Thank you for the information contained in the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Tacoma Liquefied Natural Gas Project (LNG project). Citizens for a Healthy Bay (CHB) is a 28-year-old organization whose mission is to represent and engage people in the cleanup, restoration, and protection of Commencement Bay, its surrounding waters and natural habitat. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing practical, solutions-based environmental leadership in the Puget Sound area. We work side-by-side with residents, businesses, and government to prevent and mitigate pollution and to make our community healthier and more vibrant. We commented on the original draft EIS for this project in 2015, and had concerns that were addressed by Puget Sound Energy’s modifications to the project. After that, we were neutral on the LNG project. For the SEIS, CHB’s Policy and Technical Advisory Committee, staff, and board have reviewed information in light of recently published reports on climate change, and we are alarmed by the new information available on this project. Within the SEIS is information that shows the LNG plant would have higher climate impacts than the no action alternative for the life of the project, and CHB finds that the LNG project poses unacceptable risks to Commencement Bay and the Tacoma environment. We also find important parts of the SEIS to be incomplete and misleading for the public. By unanimous vote of our board of directors, CHB opposes any further development of the LNG project. We urge PSCAA to revise and update the SEIS and re-release it for public input. The most alarming information in the SEIS relates to the amount and impact of methane emissions during the life of the project. A key step to PSCAA’s conclusion that the LNG project is better than the no action alternative is evaluating the impacts of the methane emissions after 100 years, at a time when their potency would be significantly diminished. At 100 years, after the methane emissions have lost most of their potency, the SEIS says the emissions from the plant would only be 4 or 5% better than the no action alternative. However, because methane’s potency is much higher in the first few decades it is emitted, examining the impact of methane emissions on a shorter timeline would show the climate impact of the LNG plant to be much worse than the no action alternative. Climate change is an immediate local and global concern. The 0.5 degrees Celsius increase we have already experienced has impacted our Puget Sound communities and environment. These changes affect the planet as a whole and impact Commencement Bay. Ocean acidification is one example of a global problem from climate change impacting the Puget Sound and Commencement Bay; ocean acidification is hurting shellfish and the people who eat or sell shellfish. We know that climate change impacts Puget Sound and Commencement Bay and that cutting greenhouse gas emissions now must be a global and local priority. Recent reports about the progress of climate change indicate that the planet is experiencing rapid warming. Without drastic, unprecedented cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the planet will warm by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next few decades, and potentially 4 degrees Celsius by 2100. The impact of changes beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius is unacceptable to us. It will massively impact the Puget Sound fishery and ecosystem, and change our communities and economy in ways we cannot yet imagine. To prevent more than 1.5 degrees warming, scientists report that global greenhouse gas emissions must fall to zero by 2050 and then go negative. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050 is a massive task, and will take drastic, unprecedented measures to accomplish. With the scale of change that needs to happen in mind, the LNG project is a step in exactly the wrong direction. Increasing methane emissions, which are 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, in the next few decades is the opposite of what we should be doing. This LNG project would release hundreds of thousands of tons of a potent greenhouse gas at the exact time when we must drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is a bad idea and should not proceed. We are also extremely concerned that this SEIS is incomplete and relies on outdated, inaccurate information and is misleading for the public. A critical table in the analysis appendix, Table C.1. uses placeholder figures rather than actual data. Although we have requested the accurate data for this table, it has not been provided. In the SEIS, the global warming potential of methane and nitrous oxide is assessed based on an outdated standard (AR4) from 2007. The newest standard, AR5, shows that methane has a greater impact on climate change than previously thought. Bizarrely, the SEIS discusses the updated standard and includes the figures for it in its report, but then chooses to use the outdated standard from 2007 for its analysis. Additionally, the conclusions in the SEIS rely heavily on the assertion from PSE that the plant will only use natural gas from British Columbia. The SEIS fails to provide any analysis or discussion of the potential greenhouse gas emissions if the plant’s natural gas comes from another source, such as the United States or other Canadian provinces. As a result, it is impossible to assess the true impact of the project in the likely scenario that the natural gas will be sourced from multiple locations. The SEIS provides an incomplete picture of greenhouse gas impacts because it insisted on an analysis restricted to a certain geography. Further, the SEIS fails to indicate how the LNG plant scenario compares to the no action alternative in terms of global warming impacts during the 40 year life of the project. The SEIS relies on a 100-year timescale to assess greenhouse gas emissions even though the life of the plant is only anticipated to be 40 years. The public deserves to know the true impact of the project during its lifespan, or, at least, during a timeframe that is relevant to the important changes that need to be made to address climate change. Why have an SEIS that is scoped to explore the greenhouse impacts of a project and then not disclose the greenhouse impacts in a relevant way? Finally, we are concerned about the exclusion of tribal communities at a critical stage in the process. The City of Tacoma had a legal responsibility to meaningfully involve the Puyallup Tribe of Indians in consultation at the early stages of this project. CHB did an open records request earlier in 2018, and found that the City did not have records to show it followed the meaningful consultation requirements under the Land Claims Settlement Act. Please do not perpetuate the illegal denial of meaningful consultation with the Puyallup Tribe about actions that impact tribal resources. Take the time to address the flaws in this process. Consult with the Tribe about the information in the SEIS and the significant risks to the Tribe’s resources. Then, please revise and update the SEIS with full and complete information, and to re-release it to the public for public comment. In its current state, the SEIS is incomplete, inaccurate and unreliable. We stand in opposition to this project. We encourage you to pause this process and reissue a complete SEIS on which the public can comment. Thank you for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions about this letter. Sincerely, Melissa Malott Executive Director, Citizens for a Healthy Bay mmalott@healthybay.org, (253) 383-2429 CC: Victoria Woodards, City of Tacoma Mayor Members of the City of Tacoma City Council Members of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Tribal Council Members of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Board of Directors Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington State Rep. Jake Fey, Washington State House of Representatives Rep. Laurie Jinkins, Washington State House of Representatives Sen. Jeannie Darnielle, Washington State Senate Hartleigh Caine, TOTE Maritime Alaska Action Alert signup If you want to stay on top of environmental issues and get more involved in opportunities to push for a cleaner, healthier Tacoma and South Puget Sound? Subscribe to our Arising Issues email list, where we provide important updates and alerts on everything from public comment opportunities and hearings to proposed changes to laws and protections that need your support. Sign up for our Arising Issues email list. Citizens for a Healthy Bay is a non-profit organization that engages people to clean up, restore and protect Commencement Bay, its surrounding waters and natural habitat.

Hello All:

I had a busy week catching up on all the other business of the reserves, and want to send out a post event Thank You!

To everyone that pitched in preparing for and hosting last Saturday to make it a success…

Of course there are lots of things to improve on, but I’m just ecstatic that we pulled it off (and families came, etc).  We have the Kapowsin Half-Millennium birthday card displayed here at the office (thanks to Bob Walter for making it). Russ Blount is not in the photo because he held down the fort at the off-site parking in his field. Thanks Russ!

A few folks have emailed that we should schedule a work party.  I am not going to be the organizer this time – I have other events and project to focus on this summer, but maybe by September I will think about it. You can reply all to start a discussion on what needs to be done and who might want to do it, and when.

Also, a meeting to de-brief while we still remember,  and consider next steps was suggested; so I will test the waters of August to see if you will be here and can meet.

PLEASE reply if you are available all or any of these dates:  August 9, 16, or 23. I sent an email to the fire station inquiring about room availability.

Our invasive species team is available for loosestrife and yellow iris work at the lake on July 30-31 so I’ll be out there at that time.

Thanks again, it was really fun.

Birdie Davenport

Aquatic Reserves Program Manager

Aquatic Resources Division

360-902-1073

Looking for all Pierce County wetlands

In Washington, the existing statewide wetland maps (National Wetlands Inventory [NWI] maps) are out of date and inaccurate in many locations. They are based on imagery and data from the 1980s and do not reflect current wetland location and extent.

Additionally, wetlands are missing from the NWI maps. These errors of omission have been recorded to be as high as 50% in some areas, and may be as high as 90% in some forested areas. Inaccuracies and errors of omission are due in part to the difficulty of photo-interpreting certain land cover types. Also, many wetlands on agricultural lands were not mapped.

The NWI classified wetlands to identify wetland habitat types. It lacks abiotic information such as landscape position, landform, and water flow path, which can be used to predict functions and, in combination with land uses, wetland condition. To complete this project, the University of Washington will use remote sensing data sources, such as LiDAR, high-resolution aerial imagery, Landsat imagery, digital elevation data, hydrography, and updated soil maps provide an opportunity to address these known shortcomings. Moreover, recent developments in automated remote sensing technologies allow for more efficient coverage of large areas.

An improved, statewide map of wetland location and type is critical to the ability of local governments to protect wetlands. Under the Growth Management and Shoreline Management Acts, local governments play a critical role in wetland protection and management. They do this through comprehensive planning, zoning, and permit review. Planners and permit reviewers rely on existing NWI maps for these processes. A few local jurisdictions have conducted their own wetland inventories and improved their maps, but these are limited due to lack of resources, and none have predicted functions and conditions of wetlands. This leaves many local governments with inadequate maps and information on local wetlands, and the state with uneven coverage.

This project will improve the ability to more efficiently and accurately identify the location, size, and type of wetland resource. available as a publicly accessible, web-based map. Information about the maps, and any analyses using the data, will be disseminated through articles and presentations to state and federal agencies, and local governments and planners.

Source: https://portal.nifa.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/1013138-washington-wetland-mapping.html

From Pierce County: 

The Regulation Roadmap for Agriculture is now posted on the Pierce County Farming website: https://www.co.pierce.wa.us/3422/Getting-Started.  The Regulation Roadmap was developed to assist producers to identify possible permits and licenses needed to produce and sell farm products.  It also identifies the primary regulatory agencies dealing with farm products.

 

 

The Regulation Roadmap for Agriculture project is a partnership with the Agriculture Community of Interest, Pierce County Agriculture Program and Tacoma Pierce Health Department.

 

 

Diane Marcus-Jones  | Senior Planner | Pierce County Planning and Public Works| (253)798-2616 |

2401 South 35^th Street, Room 175, Tacoma, WA, 98409-7490 | dmarcus@co.pierce.wa.us  | www.co.pierce.wa.us/pals  I  www.piercecountywa.org/farming

NEWS RELEASE November 2, 2017 MEDIA CONTACT: Cathy Cochrane, 360.790.7958, cathy.cochrane@psp.wa.gov

2017 State of the Sound report shows greater commitment needed to protect Puget Sound ecosystem The 2017 State of the Sound report, released this week, shows that Puget Sound recovery efforts are effective, but at the current level of effort and investment, many 2020 recovery targets will not be met. “The health, wellbeing and vitality of the people of Washington are all closely tied to the health and wellbeing of Puget Sound. The State of the Sound report details the enormous and growing pressures on our ecosystem and the toll they are taking—including rapid population growth, ocean acidification, storm water pollution, and climate change,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “This report shows how we can do better in applying the ingenuity and values of our state to these crucial problems.” The report summarizes the status of recovery targets and highlights how innovation and new technology are being used to restore beach habitat, build new partnerships to open shellfish beds, and clean pollution from stormwater. Nonetheless, the investments to date have been a fraction of what is needed to reach recovery targets. The report includes recommendations from the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council, Science Panel, and Executive Director for immediate and long-term action. Two of the recovery targets assessed involve the Southern Resident orca and Puget Sound Chinook salmon populations. “We are at a particularly critical juncture now, with the future of Southern Resident orcas and their main food source—Chinook salmon—so imperiled,” said Sheida Sahandy, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership. “We can see that our investments are working, but the scale is inadequate to the challenge. Much greater commitment is needed, from a much larger swath of the community and with a greater focus on innovation.”  The report also highlights how management approaches have changed to improve the collective recovery effort. “We can look to the great work of our many partners, including the region’s tribes, to demonstrate the types of efforts that need to be supported and expanded,” said Ms. Sahandy. About the State of the Sound Required by state law, the State of the Sound provides data and information that can help guide decision makers in allocating resources to programs, policies, and funding efforts that can make progress in restoring Puget Sound. This report reflects the work accomplished by hundreds of groups throughout the Puget Sound region, including governments, tribes, nonprofits, communities, scientists, and businesses. For more information, go to www.psp.wa.gov/sos. About the Puget Sound Partnership The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency formed to lead the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. Working with hundreds of governments, tribes, scientists, businesses, and nonprofits, the Partnership mobilizes partner action around a common agenda, advances Sound investments, and tracks progress to optimize recovery. For more information, go to www.psp.wa.gov.