Posted: March 26, 2023
Author: John Brock
Saving Washington’s salmon from toxic tire dust
Department of Ecology
January 25, 2023
We are taking action to reduce 6PPD-quinone, a chemical that is deadly to coho salmon
For over 20 years, scientists faced a toxic mystery: coho salmon returning to urban streams and rivers in the Puget Sound region were dying before they could lay their eggs. The culprit was unknown, but it seemed linked to toxic chemicals running off our roads and highways.
Continue reading “Saving Washington’s salmon from toxic tire dust”Data Gaps Investigation Workplan Addendum 1 – Hydrogeological Characterization Well Installation
Lower Issaquah Valley
Issaquah, Washington
Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
November, 2022
Letter to the editor: The role of citizens in Edmonds’ Comprehensive Plan
Posted: October 31, 2022
Survey of PFAS in the Greater Lake Washington Watershed
Department of Ecology
October 2022
Introduction and problem statement
During summer 2020, the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (Ecology’s) Environmental Assessment Program initiated Phase 1 of a field study to address potential sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in resident fish from Lake Washington, King County (Furl and Meredith 2010, Mathieu and McCall 2017, Mathieu 2022).
During Phase 1, we assessed concentrations of PFAS in Lake Washington and in potential contaminant pathways to the lake. The Phase 1 study design included characterization of PFAS concentrations in the lake and its direct tributaries, groundwater discharges, stormwater discharges, bridge runoff, and bulk atmospheric deposition (Wong and Mathieu 2021, Escobedo 2021).
Continue reading “Survey of PFAS in the Greater Lake Washington Watershed”Letter to the editor: Change Unocal property zoning to protect Edmonds Marsh
Posted: September 20, 2022
Editor:
It is my understanding that the Unocal property is currently zoned MP2. I would like to urge the City Council to change that zoning and designate the property to be used for public use land. It would be very sad to see such a wonderful property, situated next to the marsh and the beach, turned into a housing development, even if it were to include low-cost housing. Due to its proximity to the marsh and coastline, maintaining the open, pristine nature of this land is crucial to the long-term preservation of the quality of the marsh.
Continue reading “Letter to the editor: Change Unocal property zoning to protect Edmonds Marsh”Reader view: Community volunteers dig in to restore Edmonds Marsh
By Joe Scordino
Posted: September 17, 2022
After 500 hours of hard labor on 18 days this summer, over 50 community volunteers relished in their success in restoring stream flows in the Edmonds Marsh that had been blocked by chain-link fencing and a huge, spreading mass of an invasive plant called bittersweet nightshade.
Continue reading “Reader view: Community volunteers dig in to restore Edmonds Marsh”Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Chemical Action Plan
Department of Ecology
September 2022
Executive Summary
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of more than 9,000 synthetic organic chemicals. PFAS can withstand high temperatures and survive highly corrosive environments. They are used in the manufacture of coatings, surface treatments, and specialty chemicals in cookware, carpets, food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, and other common consumer products. PFAS also have many industrial applications and are an active ingredient in certain types of fire- fighting foams (aqueous film-forming foams, or AFFF). PFAS coatings resist oil, grease, and water.
Continue reading “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Chemical Action Plan”Restoring the Edmonds Marsh: Volunteers making a difference
Posted: August 10, 2022
Link to My Edmonds News article
Community volunteers are tackling the “motherlode” of invasive bittersweet nightshade in the Edmonds Marsh along Highway 104.
Continue reading “Restoring the Edmonds Marsh: Volunteers making a difference”Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Data Gap Investigation Work Plan Lower Issaquah Valley
Farallon Consulting
July 15, 2022
Focus on: PFAS Cleanup Levels
Department of Ecology
July 2022
Letter to the editor: We must engage all residents in updating Edmonds’ Comprehensive Plan
Posted: June 8, 2022
Link to My Edmonds News article
Editor:
The City of Edmonds is embarking this year on its now once-every-10-year major revision to the Comprehensive Plan. The city, under Development Services Director Susan McLaughlin, is proposing to use an “Equitable Engagement Framework” to solicit input about this revision from communities in Edmonds that may not have participated in the past. Ms. McLaughlin envisions recruiting what she calls “community champions” to represent their respective communities and as such they may volunteer their time or be compensated for their work. But will this process ensure that the voices of actual Edmonds’ renters, business owners, homeowners, who represent the great majority of Edmonds’ residents, are listened to and that residents truly feel “heard” and engaged? And how will traditionally under-represented communities be defined?
Continue reading “Letter to the editor: We must engage all residents in updating Edmonds’ Comprehensive Plan”A review on emerging water contaminants and the application of sustainable removal technologies
Chemical and Environmental Engineering Journal
May 27, 2022
Abstract
Emerging contaminants (ECs) are synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals or any microorganisms that are not commonly monitored in the environment but have the potential to enter the environment and cause known or suspected adverse ecological or human health effects. The issue of ECs persistent in the environment and can disrupt the physiology of target receptors, they are recognized as Contaminants of emerging environmental concerns.
Continue reading “A review on emerging water contaminants and the application of sustainable removal technologies”Pharmaceutical wastewater as Emerging Contaminants (EC): Treatment technologies, impact on environment and human health
Kundan Samal, Saswat Mahapatra, Md Hibzur Ali
Energy Nexus Journal
April 25, 2022
Abstract
A wide range of unregulated chemicals of synthetic origin or derived from natural sources, which may be a contender for future regulations are called Emerging Contaminants(ECs).
Continue reading “Pharmaceutical wastewater as Emerging Contaminants (EC): Treatment technologies, impact on environment and human health”Department of Ecology – Our Committees, Boards, and Workgroups
We’re proud of the community involvement that supports Ecology’s mission. State, regional, and local governmental, non-governmental, and private constituents join forces to provide advice and oversight to a variety of projects and programs.
Below you will find links to many of the boards, committees, task forces, and other groups we contribute to. For additional information about our partnerships, boards, and committees, please visit our partnerships and committees page on our main website, ecology.wa.gov.
Our Committees, Boards, and Workgroups index