Latest News and Upcoming Events

Read the latest edition of the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance Newsletter:  

The Sounder

Turning the Tide on Cruise Ship Wastewater

March 14: Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Friends of the Earth, and People for Puget Sound have jointly proposed an amendment to an agreement which regulates cruise ship discharges in WA waters.  The amendment, which would ban the discharge of wastewater in Puget Sound and the Straits, is supported by the Department of Ecology and the Puget Sound Partnership.  Read More. 

"Enough with the foot dragging"- Seattle Times Editorial Calls for Bold Action on Stormwater  

February 6: A Seattle Times Editorial today calls for the legislature to stop “the foot dragging” and allow the Department of Ecology to issue strong municipal stormwater permits that are needed to protect Puget Sound from toxic pollution, urban flooding and habitat damage. These updates are required by Soundkeeper’s 2008 and 2009 victories before the Pollution Control Hearings Board. Read the article.  

Municipal Stormwater Permit Comments Filed

February 3: Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, People for Puget Sound and Washington Environmental Council filed detailed comments today on Ecology’s draft Municipal Stormwater Permits.  These updates were required to implement our 2008 and 2009 victories before the Pollution Control Hearings Board.  Thanks to Earthjustice for representing our groups in the fight to better control municipal stormwater.  Read the Comments.

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance Settles Clean Water Act Case with BNSF Railway Over Stormwater Pollution.

BNSF Balmer Yard facility to come into compliance with Clean Water Act, $1.5 Million to fund restoration and mitigation projects in Puget Sound. Press Release

Clean Water Act Under Attack

Puget Soundkeeper Chris Wilke spoke to KPLU about the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act stripping the Clean Water Act's federal authority to protect our waterways. Learn more on KPLU.

Traces of Coal Found Along Washington Railways

Puget Soundkeeper Chris Wilke was featured in a King 5 TV news story  after Soundkeeper volunteers found coal and coke along a Seattle railroad.  Questions arise about the proposed coal terminal in Bellingham which would bring nine or more trains and over 1,000 fully-loaded coal cars every day.  Whatcom County Doctors are very concerned about health impacts. Why are these cars still uncovered?  View the report

Sewer Programs Must Remain Part of Focus to Protect Puget Sound and Its Communities

Puget Soundkeeper Chris Wilke and two other NW environmental leaders emphasize the need to maintain funding to control sewage overflows and protect our communities from untreated sewage and industrial wastewater.  Read the op-ed article in the Seattle Times.

Bremerton Fixes Its Combined Sewer Overflow Problems.

Resulting from legal action taken by Puget Soundkeeper Alliance in 1993, Bremerton has become the first older city in the state to fix an unsanitary sewer design that dates back to the early days of sewage collection.

The problem, known as "combined sewer overflows," involves sewers that discharge raw human waste whenever it rains more than a little. The problem is common among cities with aging sewer systems.  Read more

Dead Zones in Puget Sound

760 underwater spots across the globe are either dead zones, or are fast becoming barren of life - including 22 in Washington.  View the online interactive map and read KPLU's Liam Moriarty report.

Environmental Groups Work Together to Urge Governor Gregoire to Enforce the Law

While cities and counties are asking for a delay, nearly thirty local environmental organizations are asking the Governor to enforce the ruling of the Pollution Control Hearings Board and the Federal Clean Water Act.  The ruling on the Phase I Municipal Stormwater General Permit requires the use of Low Impact Development where feasible; and the Clean Water Act requires the Department of Ecology to update the Phase I and Phase II Municipal permits every five years.  Read the letter to the Governor.

VIDEO: Saving Puget Sound

A seven-minute video about the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. See what's at stake in Puget Sound and what we are doing about it!

Watch the video