Friday, October 13, 2017

Weekend Updates & Actions

Things to Click!

Tesoro Anacortes Shoreline Permit Public Hearing
The proposed project includes additions and upgrades to the Tesoro Anacortes refinery’s existing facility in order to produce 15,000 barrels per day of mixed xylenes and to supply cleaner local transportation fuels. Mixed xylene is a compound found in gasoline, and is used to make clothing, plastics and other synthetic products. Details on these facility additions and upgrades are included on the project page of this website.
Written testimony must be received by Skagit County PDS no later than 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2017
More Details

Tacoma Tideflats Fossil Fuel Pause
Please send a comment to the Tacoma City Council, thanking it for “pausing” Fossil Fuel projects (including the proposed LNG Terminal), in order to study the issues more.
In addition to recruiting people to attend the public hearing in Tacoma next Tuesday October 17 at 5:30 pm, we need comments into the City Council.
Please submit comments to: cityclerk@cityoftacoma.org by 1 pm on Tuesday October 17.

Say NO to Coal Mining in Washington

PCCC proposes to excavate 737,000 short tons of coal reserves from 2 open pit mines at the John Henry No. 1 Coal Minesite. If this project moves forward, it will be the first coal mine to start operating in Washington State since the TransAlta open-pit coal mine near Centralia ceased operations in 2006.

Learn to write an effective Letter to the Editor
How can your passion for science and your local newspaper help influence your members of Congress? With the right letter to the editor on the latest attacks on science, you can make your words go further.
Please join the Union of Concerned Scientists for a Science Champions training on how to write an effective letter to the editor and get it printed in your local paper.
Date: Wednesday, October 25
Time: 7:30–8:15 p.m. EDT (4:30–5:15 p.m. PDT)

Hold a Ballot Party with your friends
Did you miss the HT Hold a Ballot Party podcast from the Grassroots 101 Sessions on Monday? You can still watch it at this link, and you don't need to be on FB. Look under their Videos tab for more Grassroots 101 workshops.

Things to Go To!

Town Hall with Governor Inslee
We are hoping there will be one locally, or even in Olympia.
Auburn –
Date: Thursday, October 12th, 2017
Time1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Lindbloom Student Union Building | 12401 SE 302th Street, Auburn, WA 98092

Bellevue –
Date: Thursday, October 19th, 2017
Time: 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm
Location: Carlson Theatre, Bellevue Community College | 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue 98007

Seattle –
Date: Wednesday, October 25th, 2017
Time: 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Location: University of Washington | Room location TBD

 Totem Pole Journey 2017
Kwel’Hoy, We Draw the Line!

The totem pole, created by Master Carver Jewell James of the Lummi Nation House of Tears carvers, will remind us of our place within nature, our responsibility to future generations, and our connections to each other and to our communities.
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                                                    Photo credit: Paul K. Anderson
Join the Totem Pole Journey
Tacoma, WA
When: Sunday, October 15, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (6:00 blessing meet the totem pole travelers and blessing)
Where: Foss Waterway Seaport (705 Doc St, Tacoma, 98402)
Vancouver, WA
When: Monday, October 16, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (6:00 blessing meet the totem pole travelers and blessing)
Where: Vancouver Community Library (901 C St, Vancouver, 98660)
Portland, OR
When: Tuesday, October 17, 6:30-8:00 pm (6:00 blessing meet the totem pole travelers and blessing)
Where: Ecotrust building, 721 NW 9th Ave. Ste. 200, Portland, Oregon 97206
Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.<wbr>com/events/372933196474425/

* you don't need to be "on" FB to view these​

Alliance for Jobs & Clean Energy 
Olympia Kickoff on October 24th
We are excited to announce that Governor Inslee and Beth Doglio are going to speak at our Olympia Kickoff on October 24th

When: October 24th 7 PM
Where: The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia, WA, 98501

Public hearing on Millennium’s 
Shorelines permits & Community Appreciation Dinner Party 
(if you’ve attended a rally, signed a petition, or volunteered at a “no coal” event, this party is for YOU!)
Thursday, November 2, 2017. Arrive by noon for the rally! Testimony begins at 1:00 pm and the community appreciation party from 5:00-7:00 pm.
Cowlitz County Conference Center1900 7th Ave SW, Longview, WA 98632. The community appreciation dinner party will be held in the Power Past Coal hospitality suite at the conference center.
Remember to wear red and RSVP early!
We are working on carpool plans from 
Grays Harbor-- Stay tuned!

Draft plan to address ocean shoreline uses
November 7, Aberdeen, 6 p.m.  – Grays Harbor College, Manspeaker Building Room 2250, 
1620 Edward P. Smith Dr.
The state’s proposed marine spatial plan would establish a process for coordinating among local and tribal governments, as well as with state and federal agencies to ensure interest groups and the public have opportunities to weigh on future projects.

The draft plan is now out for public review and comment. The state worked closely with local and tribal governments, other state agencies, the Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council, environmental and planning groups, the private sector and the public to develop the plan.

Public comments for the draft marine spatial plan and related EIS are due to Ecology by Tuesday, Dec. 12. They can be submitted online or by mail to: Jennifer Hennessey, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.

Things to Read!

Potash Updates
From KXRO Radio:
According to BHP, they are valuing the proposed project at around $440 million in investment. Based on those calculations, the fee would sit at $445,000.
“BHP understands the fee is calculated starting with a base, $7,000 for the first $2 million, with an incremental $1,000 increase for each $1 million of project value over $2 million with no upper limit.”

Shay said in his talks with BHP, the company said the $440 million total listed in the permit application included project costs that should not have been used in the permit application. Shay said BHP plans to get him something in writing requesting that the city consider a lower project cost for the permit evaluation.
“We expect to receive payment for the outside permit review by Oct. 17,” said Shay. “Once this happens, we will begin review of the application as their request to modify our fee structure is considered by the City Council.”

You can view the 1,087-page document for the first permit application on the Potash Export Facility here (be patient waiting for it to open)  http://fogh.org/doc/BHP-City-submittal.Sept%202017.pdf

48 Environmental Rules on the Way Out Under Trump 


Boom and Busted: Herring Collapse in Prince William Sound

-and-