Tag: Seattle Times

King County detects PFAS in wastewater, fertilizer program

May 3, 2025
By Conrad Swanson
Seattle Times climate reporter

  • 1 of 2 | Wastewater is treated at King County’s South Treatment Plant in Renton in January. The plant was one of three in the county that tested for “forever chemicals.” (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)
  • 2 of 2 | After waste is treated and much of the water is removed, the solid material is collected for further processing at King County’s South Treatment Plant. The material can be turned into fertilizer for the state’s… (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times)

Link to Seattle Times article

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Baby salmon head out to sea. Then they do something unexpected, new research shows

April 30, 2025
By Lynda V. Mapes
Seattle Times environment reporter

Link to Seattle Times article

Coho salmon smolts are collected in a fish trap as researchers assess local salmon populations in an Olympic Peninsula stream. (Karrie Hanson)
Coho salmon smolts are collected in a fish trap as researchers assess local salmon populations in an Olympic Peninsula stream. (Karrie Hanson)

Who knew that baby salmon were such explorers?

The long-held understanding that baby salmon emerge from the streams where they hatched to head out to sea actually is missing a far more complex story — and a far more interesting one, scientists explain in a new paper.

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Scientists discover ‘potential breakthrough’ in protecting salmon from urban killer

March 28, 2025 at 6:00 am

By Amanda Zhou
Seattle Times staff reporter

For decades, toxic tire dust has choked coho salmon before they can spawn in their natal streams. Now, King County scientists say they have made a “potential breakthrough” in how to save them.

Western Washington University student researchers split a sample of treated stormwater into smaller amounts for analysis. (Courtesy of Curtis Hinman)

Link to Seattle Time article

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EPA designates 2 forever chemicals as hazardous substances, eligible for Superfund cleanup

By MATTHEW DALY
The Associated Press
April 19, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday designated two forever chemicals that have been used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances, an action intended to ensure quicker cleanup of the toxic compounds and require industries and others responsible for contamination to pay for its removal.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/epa-designates-2-forever-chemicals-as-hazardous-substances-eligible-for-superfund-cleanup

WA’s public water systems would need $1.6 billion for initial PFAS cleanup, state officials say

By Isabella Breda and Manuel Villa
April 10, 2024

The Environmental Protection Agency announced the first national drinking water standard for six so-called forever chemicals Wednesday, a change that could cost Washington public water utilities an estimated $1.6 billion, according to state officials.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/biden-administration-reveals-first-drinking-water-standard-for-pfas