Ecology seeks community input on local air quality issues.

Source link: https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/ecology-seeks-community-input-on-local-air-quality

SPOKANE, WASH.  – 

The Washington Department of Ecology is working with partners in eastern Washington to expand the state’s air monitoring network. The goal is to better track and start to address air pollution in overburdened communities that are highly impacted by pollution. 

As part of the planning for this expansion, Ecology and the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency will hold in-person open houses next week in Spokane to hear from community members about their air pollution concerns. Ecology will hold similar events in George and Mattawa later in the month.

The open house meetings will be held:

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 3-7 p.m.

Central Spokane Public Library, 906 West Main Ave., Spokane 

Thursday Nov. 9, 3-7 p.m.

The Hive – Spokane Public Library, 2904 East Sprague Ave., Spokane 

Wednesday, Nov. 15, 3-7 p.m.

George Community Hall, 403 West Montmorency Blvd., George 

Thursday, Nov. 16, 3-7 p.m.

Wahluke High School, 505 North Boundary Road, Mattawa 

Anyone who is worried about the outdoor air where they live, work, or play is invited to visit one of the open houses to share their experience and to learn more. They can also provide input to help Ecology identify additional monitoring locations in their community.

The open houses are part of new air quality and environmental justice work – funded under the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) – that is focused on Washington communities that are historically overburdened with health, social and environmental inequities and highly impacted by air pollution. 

“The success of this work involves many steps and depends on ongoing relationships with local communities,” said Abigail Ruskey, environmental justice planner in Ecology’s Air Quality Program. “These upcoming events are an opportunity for informal conversations to help us make sure we’re putting effort and resources where they will do the most good.”

Ecology staff and air quality experts will be at the meetings to provide information on air quality and the new program, and to listen to the public’s input. Light refreshments will be served.

IN OTHER STATE NEWS:

Washington seeks to link carbon market with California, Québec.

OLYMPIA  – 

Connecting Washington’s cap-and-invest program to similar carbon markets in California and Québec could create a stronger, more durable system with significant benefits for our state. That is the conclusion that Washington Department of Ecology Director Laura Watson made in her preliminary decision today. The decision clears the way for the agency to begin discussions with those potential partners on what a combined program might look like. /DOE

Plastic bottles and bags to be made with more recycled content.

OLYMPIA  – 

You can find plastic trash everywhere. It’s one of the most common items in roadside litter. Plastic bottles and containers end up in our lakes and rivers, and plastic refuse mars our parks and public spaces. Moreover, the fossil fuels that go into making these products contribute to climate change. /DOE

2023 Washington Governor’s Smart Communities Award recipients announced.

Annual awards recognize excellence, creativity, collaboration in land use planning and development

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington State Department of Commerce is pleased to announce the 11 winners of the 2023 Governor’s Smart Communities Awards. Presented annually since 2006, the Smart Communities Awards program recognizes local governments and their partners for exceptional land use planning and development. The awards showcase effective implementation of the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA)./ WA COMMERCE DEPT.

Fall 2023 Division of Consumer Services Newsletter

Fall 2023 news and updates from DFI's Division of Consumer Services./DFI

Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program accepting project proposals to restore and protect Puget Sound shorelines, estuaries.

OLYMPIA – The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) is now accepting proposals for small grant projects that advance Puget Sound shoreline restoration and protection./WDFW

Pierce County dentist suspended on charges of unsafe practices while using moderate sedation.

OLYMPIA – The Dental Quality Assurance Commission suspended the Pierce County dentist license (DE00009351) and moderate sedation permit (CS10000438) of Thi D. Nguyen pending further legal action./DOH

2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:

KILMER STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF PARTISAN, INCOMPLETE SECURITY SUPPLEMENTAL LEGISLATION

KILMER ADVOCATES FOR A FUNDING PACKAGE THAT SUPPORTS ALLIES, DELIVERS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, AND UPHOLDS DEMOCRACY WORLDWIDE./ FROM PRESS RELASE ISSUDE 11/02/23

KILMER ANNOUNCES $1.35 MILLION FOR CLEAN ENERGY RESEARCH IN SEQUIM

SEQUIM’S PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY TO SPEARHEAD EXTRACTION OF CRITICAL MINERALS FOR ENERGY APPLICATIONS/ PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 11/3/23

Cantwell Holds Fentanyl Briefing with Dept. of Homeland Security, ONDCP, and Dept. of Commerce Officials

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, held a briefing on the role of commerce and transportation in the fentanyl crisis for a bipartisan group of committee colleagues. Briefers included representatives from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the Department of Commerce (DOC)./ PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 11/1/23

Cantwell, Hickenlooper Bill to Clean Up Space Junk Passes Senate Unanimously

ORBITS Act would support technologies to clear the nearly 1 million pieces of dangerous orbital debris that endanger astronauts and satellites/ PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 11/1/23

Senator Murray Secures Senate Passage of Three Bipartisan Appropriations Bills; Legislation Includes Hundreds of Millions for WA State Priorities and Local Projects

ICYMI: Senate overwhelmingly passes MilCon-VA, Ag-FDA, and Transportation-HUD appropriations bills; As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Murray authored and secured Senate passage of the “minibus” bill/ PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 11/1/23

Senator Murray Calls for Humanitarian Pause in Israel-Hamas War, Release of Hostages, Humanitarian Aid for Civilians in Gaza

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement calling for a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war to allow critical humanitarian aid to reach innocent civilians in Gaza, while reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism./ PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 11/2/23

3) WORLD, NATION, and BUSINESS:

WORLD:

First Committee Coalesces Around UN Disarmament Machinery Drafts, But Differences Persist over ‘ICT’ Security, Regional Disarmament in Mediterranean Region

Twenty-Two More Drafts Sent to General Assembly for Adoption/ UN PRESS RELASE

Sustained, Structured Conversation around Risks, Challenges, Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence Vital, Secretary-General Tells Safety Summit

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks on the occasion of the United Kingdom AI [artificial intelligence] Safety Summit, in London today/ UN PRESS RELEASE

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Israeli President Isaac Herzog Before Their Meeting/ US STATE DEPT.

Explanation of Vote After the Vote on a UN General Assembly Resolution on the Cuba Embargo/ USUN

Defense Department Continues to Stress Law of War With Israel/DOD

NATION:

Two Nigerian Nationals Sentenced to Prison for International Scheme That Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims.

Two Nigerian nationals who were extradited to the United States from Spain were sentenced to 128 and 87 months in prison for their roles in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. With today’s sentencing, five defendants who were extradited from the United Kingdom and Spain in connection with this matter have been sentenced./DOJ

In Celebration of 2nd Anniversary, Justice Department’s Office for Access to Justice Publishes Report on Economic Justice Policies that Reduce Reliance on Fines and Fees/DOJ

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Reaches Agreement to Resolve Sexual Harassment Investigation of Arcadia University in Pennsylvania/ DEPT. of EDUCATION

Federal Housing Administration Changes Appraisal Requirements for Certain Manufactured Homes to Enhance Financing Flexibility for Borrowers

Updated requirements for valuation of manufactured homes contribute to FHA’s efforts to increase the availability and affordability of manufactured housing as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan./HUD

FDA Proposes to Ban Food Additive, Continues Assessments of Additional Chemicals.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed to revoke the regulation authorizing the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. The agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results of studies External Link Disclaimer conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found the potential for adverse health effects in humans/ FDA

BUSINESS:

Rising Crime Is a Risk for Businesses. What Can Be Done?

Crime continues to be a major problem for businesses large and small across the country. Federal, state, and local officials have pursued anti-crime efforts but further action is needed. Here are the Chamber's policy recommendations./ US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Responsible Parties Reach Settlement for More Than $33 Million to Restore Natural Resources in Portland Harbor/ DOJ

U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS Open Registration for Car Dealers to Receive Direct Tax Credit Payments to Expand Access to Clean Vehicles, Help Car Dealers Grow Businesses/ TREASURY DEPT

USDA Announces Early Release of Select Commodity Tables for Agricultural Projections to 2033/USDA

Digital asset public hearing rescheduled for Nov. 13

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the hearing on proposed regulations regarding digital asset transactions currently scheduled for Nov. 7 has been rescheduled for Nov. 13, 2023./IRS

IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETING FOR 11/4/23