"The Re-beavering of the American West"
"An industrious but finicky pest could be the key to restoring Washington State’s wetlands and salmon populations."
Source: bioGraphic, 12/05/2018
Northwest (OR WA)
In 2019, PFAS Chemicals Will Show Up in Drinking Water … and Headlines
The vast and widely used PFAS family of chemicals is causing serious worries across the country, as it turns up in more and more drinking water systems. Pressure to regulate it is also growing, but with mixed results. This week’s TipSheet offers a detailed look-ahead on this big, developing story, with a walk-through of the context, what the EPA is (and isn’t) doing, and why states are stepping up.
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Super-Bacteria Show Up In Puget Sound Wildlife – From Orcas To Otters
"A leafy little tunnel runs through the undergrowth along the Black River in the Seattle suburb of Renton: an otter trail. It’s in hidey-holes like this that river otters leave detailed evidence of human misdeeds. Just downstream, in the Duwamish River, droppings left by river otters reveal toxic PCBs and other industrial waste."
Source: KUOW, 11/27/2018
Bear Stories Should Go Beyond Bare Facts
Bears, particularly the plentiful black bears that are the source of much human-bear conflict, can serve as a opening to larger environmental stories, such as habitat destruction and the challenges of the “wildland-urban interface.” This week’s TipSheet has some of the good news/bad news on bears, with story ideas and resources for your reporting.
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"Washington State Voters Reject Carbon-Fee Initiative"
"Washington state voters on Tuesday rejected Initiative 1631, a proposed carbon fee on fossil-fuel emissions that spurred the biggest ballot-measure spending spree in state history."
Source: Seattle Times, 11/07/2018
"Oregon Governor Joins Other States In Offshore Drilling Ban"
"Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order Thursday blocking offshore drilling, joining several other states trying to shield themselves from the Trump administration's plan to drill for oil and gas off the U.S. coast."
Source: AP, 10/26/2018
"EPA Proposes Reducing Cleanup Plans At Portland Harbor Superfund Site"
"Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are proposing to scale back the scope and cost of the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup."
Source: OPB/EarthFix, 10/24/2018
Environment Issues Figure in Many 2018 Mid-Term Races, Ballots
Climate, environment and energy issues figure prominently in the upcoming Nov. 6 elections, whether in individual races, ballot measures or significant power shifts. This week’s TipSheet provides starting points to track relevant races, and runs down 11 big environmental ballots, ranging from measures like a carbon tax in Washington state and drilling ban in Florida, to tight congressional races in California, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia.
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As Climate Struggle Gets Real, Cities Stand on Front Line
When it comes to facing the risks of coming climate change, cities and states are leading the way for the United States. That means planning for future emissions reductions, as well as preparing for probable impacts. This week’s TipSheet has the story, with details on which local governments are acting and resources to find more, plus ten key questions to ask.
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Dam Removal May Provide Environmental News Near You
Local dams are threatened with floods brought by Hurricane Florence. But already, many of these dams were being removed after decades of building them up, as part of a growing effort to limit harm to the environment and hazards to local communities. This week’s TipSheet explains the trend, highlights some examples and points the way to databases and other resources to find and report on dams in your area.
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