OUR PARKS AND FOREST

US DEPT. OF INTERIOR: Secretary Zinke Sends Monument Report to the White House
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8. 24. 17

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke sent a draft report to the president which included his findings and recommendations on national monuments that were under review as a result of the April 26, 2017 executive order. The report summary can be read here. The extensive 120-day review included more than 60 meetings with hundreds of advocates and opponents of monument designations, tours of monuments conducted over air, foot, car, and horseback (including a virtual tour of a marine monument), and a thorough review of more than 2.4 million public comments submitted to the Department on regulations.gov. Additionally, countless more meetings and conversations between senior Interior officials and local, state, Tribal, and non-government stakeholders including multiple Tribal listening sessions.

The review was initiated by President Trump in order to restore trust in the multiple-use mission of the Department and to give rural communities a voice in federal land management decisions. In order to make the process transparent and give local residents and stakeholders a voice, the Secretary announced on May 5, 2017 the opening up of a formal comment period for the review, as the President directed. This was the first time ever that a formal comment period was open on regulations.gov for national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act.

“No President should use the authority under the Antiquities Act to restrict public access, prevent hunting and fishing, burden private land, or eliminate traditional land uses, unless such action is needed to protect the object,” said Secretary Zinke.“The recommendations I sent to the president on national monuments will maintain federal ownership of all federal land and protect the land under federal environmental regulations, and also provide a much needed change for the local communities who border and rely on these lands for hunting and fishing, economic development, traditional uses, and recreation.”

While traveling across the country, Secretary Zinke met with hundreds of local stakeholders and heard concerns about some national monuments negatively impacting things like local revenue from federal lands, agriculture, private property rights, public access to land, traditional Tribal uses of the land, and timber harvesting.


ON THE STATE LEVEL
WDFW encourages anglers to fish for escaped Atlantic salmon
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 22/ 17

OLYMPIA – State salmon managers are encouraging anglers to fish for thousands of Atlantic salmon that escaped recently from a salmon farm near the San Juan Islands.
Cooke Aquaculture notified the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) of a net pen failure on Aug. 19 that caused the release of Atlantic salmon from the Cypress Island location. About 305,000 salmon were in the net pen at the time, though the company initially estimated that only 4,000-5,000 fish have escaped. Cypress Island lies along Rosario Strait between Guemes and Blakely islands
"Our first concern, of course, is to protect native fish species," said Ron Warren, head of WDFW's Fish Program. "So we'd like to see as many of these escaped fish caught as possible."
Warren said there is no evidence that these fish pose a threat to native fish populations, either through disease or crossbreeding with Pacific salmon. To date, there is no record of Atlantic salmon successfully reproducing with Pacific salmon in Washington's waters, he said.
"It will be some time before we know how many fish escaped the net pens," Warren said. "That's why we've authorized Cooke Aquaculture to fish with beach seine nets and we're encouraging anglers to go out and harvest these fish."
The escaped fish are estimated to be eight to 10 pounds in size and are safe to eat.
There is no size or catch limit on Atlantic salmon. However, anglers may only fish for Atlantic salmon in marine waters that are already open to fishing for Pacific salmon or freshwater areas open for trout fishing. Anglers also must stop fishing for Atlantic salmon once they've caught their daily limit of Pacific salmon.
To help anglers identify Atlantic salmon, WDFW has posted a salmon identification guide on its webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/salmon/atlantic.html

Anglers must have a current fishing license and must also observe gear regulations identified in the 2017-18 sport fishing rules pamphlet. Anglers do not have to report Atlantic salmon on their catch record cards.

OUR ENVIRONMENT

EPA: EPA AWARDS WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY JUST OVER $3 MILLION TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 24/ 17

Seattle, WA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $3,080,000 to the Washington Department of Ecology to help protect human health and the environment through a Nonpoint Source Program Clean Water Act (Section 319) grant. This grant is given to states to implement environmental programs that address nonpoint source pollution in surface and groundwater in order to meet and maintain water quality standards.
"Providing funds directly to Washington is an excellent example of EPA partnering with states to help address their unique and critical environmental challenges," said EPA Administrator Pruitt. "EPA is making investments like this grant to help empower states who know best how to protect resources, and grow their economy while solving real environmental problems in local communities."
Under this year’s program, a total of nine proposals were selected for funding. These proposals are planned to be funded when the Washington state Legislature passes a new two-year capital budget for the 2017-19 biennium, as these funds provide the critical match for the federal grants.
Nonpoint sources of pollution continue to be recognized as the nation's largest remaining cause of surface water quality impairments. Nonpoint source pollutants - pathogens, sediment, and nutrients cause the majority of damage to Washington’s lakes, rivers and streams. Non-point issues can also lead to warm water temperatures. Left unaddressed, warm waters can make crucial streams uninhabitable by cold-loving aquatic species like salmon and other native fish.
Non-point pollution grant funding can be just the “shot in the arm” that local projects need. For example:
Stevens County: ($132,900 grant)
Projects aided by this funding will restore hundreds of acres of wetlands and repair riparian vegetation along a wetlands easement negotiated by USDA and NRCS on a 950-acre property in the Lower Spokane River watershed.
King County: ($170,025 grant)
Local restoration efforts in King County’s Stillwater Natural Area will get a boost from grant funds  as volunteers work to address high water temperatures in local streams that are proving lethal for salmon and other native fish. The project will replace invasive weeds with native plants within a riparian buffer over 12 acres and nearly a third of a mile of Snoqualmie River streambank.
 Skagit County: ($249,795 grant)
The Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group will use EPA grant funds to plant 25 acres of riparian buffer along the Skagit River. They will also construct nearly a mile of livestock exclusion fencing at five sites along 303(d) listed streams, and along Skagit River side channels that are harmed by livestock grazing and lack of shade.
Nonpoint source pollution encompasses a wide range of sources that are not always subject to federal or state regulation. These sources include agricultural runoff, unpermitted urban runoff, abandoned mine drainage, failing onsite disposal systems, and pollution caused by changes to natural stream channels.
Congress enacted Section 319 of the Clean Water Act in 1987, establishing a national program to control nonpoint sources of water pollution. Through Section 319, the EPA provides states, territories, and tribes with guidance and grant funding to implement their nonpoint source programs and to support local watershed projects to improve water quality. Collectively, this work has restored over 6,000 miles of streams and over 164,000 acres of lakes since 2006. Hundreds of additional projects are currently underway across the country.


EPA awards $45,000 grant to Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to improve air quality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 23/ 17

CHICAGO (Aug. 23, 2017) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a $45,620 grant to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians that will fund the tribe’s work to reduce pollution and improve air quality in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
“At EPA, we are protecting the environment by engaging with our tribal partners,” said Administrator Scott Pruitt. “This grant represents what EPA is all about, empowering tribal nations to protect their environment to ensure clean water, air and land for America’s tribes.”
In collaboration with the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe will use the grant to train its staff to conduct air quality assessments and to interpret air monitoring data from industries in the eastern U.P. In addition, the tribe will:
·         Assess wood stoves.
·         Develop a database of its diesel vehicles.
·         Explore the use of cooking oil to power field vehicles.
·         Engage the community on air quality issues.
“We face many issues involving air quality and these grants will help us be better prepared to improve our air quality,” said Kathie Brosemer, environmental department manager, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Based in Sault Ste. Marie, the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan provides a cooperative forum for 11 tribes: Bay Mills Indian Community, Hannahville Indian Community; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish (Gun Lake Tribe), Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, and the Nottawaseppi Band of Huron Potawatomi.

DOE: Summary of environmental penalties issued second quarter 2017
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 8/ 22/ 17
The Washington Department of Ecology issued $50,000 in penalties of $1,000 or more April through June in 2017.
Ecology works with thousands of businesses and individuals to help them comply with state laws. Penalties are issued in cases where non-compliance continues after Ecology has provided technical assistance or warnings, or for particularly serious violations.
The money owed from penalties may be reduced from the issued amount due to settlement or court rulings. Funds collected go to the state’s general fund or to dedicated pollution prevention accounts.
Ecology strives to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment and promote wise management for current and future generations. When someone pollutes Washington’s land, air or waters, Ecology enforces state and federal regulations in hopes of changing behavior and deterring future violations.

WORLD & NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

UN NEWS CENTER:
UN rights office gathering info on air strikes in Yemen; urges protection of civilians
25 August 2017 – Reiterating that attacks targeting civilians are prohibited under international law, the United Nations human rights office today confirmed dozens of casualties in airstrikes on villages near the capital, Sana'a.

No 'worse place on earth' than Syria's Raqqa, says senior UN adviser urging pause in fighting
24 August 2017 – A senior United Nations aid official today urged the international community to do whatever is needed to allow citizens to flee from Raqqa, saying that right now, there is "no worse place on earth" than the de facto capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh).

NATIONAL
AP: 4 resign from Illinois governor's office after cartoon flap
CHICAGO — Just weeks after being hired, four key members of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's communications team have resigned in the wake of the Republican's confusing response to a political cartoon depicting a black child begging a white man for money.

NYT: Administration Scraps Local-Hiring Plan for Public Works
The Trump administration is abandoning another Obama-era regulatory initiative, killing a plan to allow cities to set aside work for local residents on federally funded public works projects.



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Psalm 119:165 NKJV


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