Protecting & Preserving Puget Sound
In a major victory for clean water, the Washington State Supreme Court today unanimously rejected an effort by counties and developers to weaken a key permit designed to reduced toxic runoff and protect waterways including Puget Sound.
In response to citizen action, the city of Tacoma has agreed to overhaul its industrial wastewater program and pay $70,000 to support water quality projects in South Puget Sound.
As attacks at the federal level threaten clean water protections, we will continue to defend the rights of everyone in our community to safe, healthy waterways.
A coalition of environmental organizations and BNSF Railway (BNSF) have reached an agreement in principle that will ensure that BNSF starts to clean up and prevent pollution from their coal trains.
The agreement, which is expected to be finalized as a legally enforceable consent decree court order in the next 60 days, will put on hold the ongoing trial until a final agreement is reached, and includes several requirements that will protect the health of Washington’s waterways.
This is a win for those that work, live and recreate in the Columbia River, Puget Sound, Spokane River, and other Washington waterways that have been polluted by the dust of passing coal trains for decades.
Today 4,500 Washingtonians submitted comments to Gov. Inslee and the Department of Ecology (Ecology) calling for stronger state pollution controls for concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs.
A coalition of environmental organizations reached an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and two industry trade associations to simplify the job of controlling water pollution for regulators, businesses and citizens.
Nationwide, the pollution that has the biggest impact on rivers and streams is agricultural pollution.
Today, a federal judge imposed a tight deadline on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize new anti-pollution water quality rules aimed at protecting public health. The rules, often called fish consumption rules, must ensure that fish caught and eaten from Washington waters are safe for the most vulnerable and exposed populations.
The new water quality standards rule caves to industry pressure, leaving some of the most dangerous chemicals inadequately regulated. It trades prompt action for a continuation of the status quo and a continued threat to the health of Washington communities.