Source Link: https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=37607
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is launching the Compost Reimbursement Program to encourage on-farm compost use. Approximately $1 million will be distributed annually on a first-come, first-served basis.
All commercial Washington farmers – including those in agriculture, silviculture, aquaculture – are eligible for the program. Participants must agree to conduct soil sampling before and for several years following the compost application. Additionally, the compost must be purchased from a business with a solid waste handling permit.
Producers must first apply to and be approved for the program, ensuring that their business and compost source are eligible. Once approved, program participants must sign a grant agreement contract and conduct pre-application soil sampling before applying the compost. After expenses are incurred, applicants will submit a reimbursement application for their total expenses. The expenses are then calculated and the applicant is reimbursed for 50 percent of their expenses, not to exceed $10,000 total per business.
WSDA anticipates accepting applications beginning in September. But producers can sign up now to be notified once the application period opens. Applications will continue to be accepted until the allotted funds are spent each fiscal year, which runs from July through June.
The Washington State Legislature established the Compost Reimbursement Program earlier this year when they passed and funded Revised Code of Washington 15.04.420. WSDA has been setting up the infrastructure since then and will begin accepting applications once the infrastructure is in place to collect, process, and reimburse the grant applications.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS...
AG Ferguson announces the collection of DNA from more than 2,000 violent and sex offenders--WA AG
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that his lawfully owed DNA project has reached a significant milestone, with more than 2,000 new profiles added to the national DNA database since the effort began.
Washington Public Works Board approves $4.37 million for eight critical infrastructure projects--WA COMMERCE DEPT.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Public Works Board last Friday approved $4.37 million for pre-construction projects in eight Washington communities. The awards support roads and streets, domestic water, sanitary sewer, and solid waste, recycling and organics infrastructure.
Ecology announces environmental restoration grant awards.
OLYMPIA –
Improving habitat, collecting derelict fishing gear, and removing invasive species are just some of the highlights of the latest round of environmental restoration grants awarded by the Washington Department of Ecology. Seven organizations in six counties will benefit from $318,478 in grants.--DOE
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) reopens for shore-based salmon fishing in August; fishing restrictions also lifted within 100 yards of Dash Point Pier.--WDFW
WDFW invites public comment on rule making for Lake Roosevelt white sturgeon season.--WDFW
2) NEWS FROM OUR CONGRESSIONL DELEGATION
Cantwell-Authored CHIPS & Science Act Seeding U.S. Manufacturing, Innovation Resurgence After Just One Year
2,880 new high-wage semiconductor manufacturing jobs already announced in the Pacific Northwest; CHIPS & Science Act unlocking manufacturing and research potential across WA - in places like Seattle, Spokane, Camas, Yakima - and across the nation.--Press release
Senator Murray Visits University of Washington Computer Science and Engineering School, Discusses AI Development with UW Researchers
Senator Murray: “I secured this funding because I know how essential it is that this technology be developed responsibly and ethically—leading on AI will be important if we want Washington state to remain at the forefront of innovation, research, and scientific achievement.”--PRESS RELEASE
Senator Murray Hosts Roundtable on PACT Act Implementation at VA Puget Sound, Discusses the Need to Expand Veterans’ Health Care Benefits and Access
As of July 2023, VA has received more than 14,000 claims for PACT Act benefits from veterans and survivors in Washington state
Senator Murray helped secure over $50 billion for PACT Act implementation to help connect Washington state veterans with new health care and other benefits.--PRESS RELEASE
3) WORLD & NATION
WORLD:
Continued Military Hostilities, Sexual Violence, Attacks against Citizens Pushing Sudan into ‘Catastrophic’ Humanitarian Crisis, Speakers Warn Security Council
Continued violence in parts of Sudan, particularly sexual and ethnically targeted violence, risks engulfing the country in a prolonged conflict with regional spillover, senior United Nations officials told the Security Council today, as they warned that the country’s descent into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen. --UN PRESS RELEASE
Efforts to Organize Consultations with Syria Still Not Successful, Senior Official Tells Security Council, Stressing Cooperation Crucial to Close Chemical Weapon File
The Technical Secretariat of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) efforts to organize the next round of consultations with Syria continue to be unsuccessful, a senior official of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs told the Security Council today, stressing that full cooperation by Damascus is essential to closing its chemical weapons file.--UN PRESS RELEASE
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield Applauds the Completion of the FSO Safer Oil Offloading Operation.
I welcome the news that the UN has now successfully transferred oil from the decaying FSO Safer supertanker moored off Yemen’s Red Sea coast onto a new vessel. The United States has long been a leading advocate and financial supporter of this project.
Had the world not acted, coastlines across the Horn of Africa and Arabian Peninsula would have been polluted, exposing communities to deadly toxins, and contaminating drinking water supplies for the entire region. Shipping through the Suez Canal would have been disrupted – halting food, fuel, and life-saving supplies that would have exacerbated the already dire humanitarian conditions in Yemen.
At a time when the world faces a host of pressing crises, this is a bright spot, and a model example of international cooperation. Now, we must finish the work by removing the Safer from the Red Sea.--USUN
Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena at a Joint Press Availability--US STATE DEPT.
Defense Official Says Force Posture in Niger Is Unchanged.--DOD
NATION
Two Nigerian Nationals Plead Guilty, and One Sentenced to Prison for International Inheritance Fraud Scheme That Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims--DOJ
U.S. Department of Education Announces Key K-12 Cybersecurity Resilience Efforts--DEPT. of EDUCATION
As students, educators, and families prepare for back-to-school, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) today announced key K-12 cybersecurity resilience efforts.
CDC warns of Listeria outbreak linked to “Soft Serve On The Go” ice cream cups.
HUD and VA Launch “Boot Camps” to Accelerate Homeless Veterans' Path to Permanent Housing and Support Services
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) “Boot Camps.” The HUD-VASH “Boot Camps” are a series of workshops to help Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Veteran Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) improve their processes and more quickly transition veterans from homelessness to permanent housing with wraparound supportive services. The HUD-VASH program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA.--HUD
Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Safety Review Board to Conduct Review on Cloud Security--DSHS
CSRB’s Third Review Will Provide Recommendations to Help Organizations Protect Against Malicious Access to Cloud-Based Accounts
4) BUSINESS
United States Orders Mewbourne Oil Company to Pay $5.5 Million and Reduce Unlawful Air Pollution from Oil and Gas Wells in New Mexico and Texas, Eliminating More than 11,000 Tons of Harmful Air Pollutants Annually--DOJ
USDA To Provide Additional Financial Assistance to Qualifying Guaranteed Farm Loan Borrowers Facing Financial Risk--USDA
Welcoming Remarks
Governor Michelle W. Bowman
At "Fed Listens: Community Listening Session" hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.--THE FED
IRS and Treasury issue guidance for owners of solar and wind powered energy facilities in low-income communities for increased energy credit under the Inflation Reduction Act--IRS
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $69M FUNDING AVAILABLE TO HELP YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES CONNECT WITH GOOD JOBS--DEPT. of Labor
5) IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS
IN FOCUS: State turns unexpected hospital closure into opportunity to address urgent behavioral health needs.
As part of an urgent effort to serve the increasing numbers of people waiting for behavioral health services, including those in jail awaiting competency services, the Department of Social and Health Services finalized an agreement to lease and purchase the former Cascade Behavioral Health facility in Tukwila.
The purchase of the vacant behavioral health hospital for $29.9 million will add about 100 beds. The department will take a phased approach of making the beds available to patients. The facility operated as a privately-owned psychiatric hospital until it was shuttered last month.
“The closure of this hospital was tough news, but it also presented us with a sudden and unexpected opportunity,” said Gov. Jay Inslee. “We have been working diligently to serve rapidly growing numbers of patients needing behavioral health care, but one of our biggest constraints is the amount of time it takes to build and staff new facilities. I appreciate the work of the department to act quickly so the state could prepare a competitive bid. We will move as quickly as we can to prepare the hospital to serve patients.”
“Although we currently have several projects to add bed capacity in various stages of construction and development, we believe this was a prime opportunity for us to add immediate capacity in a location that is easily accessible for staff, patients, and their families,” DSHS Secretary Jilma Meneses said. “The demand for behavioral health services remains high, and we will continue to examine a wide range of options to help us positively impact the needs of people awaiting behavioral health treatment.”
The department will officially take possession of the building Aug. 15, and will work toward moving in civilly committed patients from the state hospitals in the near future, which frees capacity at the state hospitals for people in jail awaiting competency services.
Before patients are transferred into the new hospital, DSHS will make maintenance upgrades, including the addition of interior cameras on the wards and installing the appropriate IT infrastructure.
Inslee reiterated the state’s commitment to strengthening Washington’s behavioral health system in his State of the State address in January. He also noted the need to reform the competency services system to ensure people can receive behavioral health care outside of the criminal justice system.
Over the past nine fiscal years, requests for DSHS to provide inpatient evaluations and competency restoration services have increased by roughly 145 %. These large and unpredicted increases in the number of county criminal court orders have exceeded the large number of beds already added to the forensic system. The Legislature approved his request-legislation which initiates several reforms to improve access to care, provide more options for services and diversion outside the court system, and improve efficiency.
Multiple new facilities are currently in the process of being developed and opened. DSHS is creating a new facility for people found not guilty by reason of insanity, which is scheduled to open later this fall at the Maple Lane campus near Rochester.
The Oak Cottage Civil Center for Behavioral Health at Maple Lane started receiving new patients from Western State Hospital in March, which also frees up bed space at the hospital for forensic patients.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County work session for 8/14/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142023-894
Clallam County Commission meeting for 8/15/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08152023-895
Clallam County Board of Health for 8/15/23
https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08152023-892
City of Port Angeles Council meeting for 8/15/23
https://www.cityofpa.us/DocumentCenter/View/13400/CC-Agenda-Packet-08152023
City of Sequim Council meeting for 8/14/23
https://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2891
City of Forks Council meeting for 8/14/23
https://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Agenda-20230814.pdf
Clallam County PUD meeting for 8/14/23
https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/clallampud/Board.nsf/Public
OMC BOARD MEETING for 8/16/23
https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/clallampud/Board.nsf/Public
JEFFERSON COUNTY MEETINGS:
Special Port of Port Townsend meeting
Special Commission Meeting
Agenda
Nomura Building
385 Benedict Street (entrance on Benedict Street)
Port Townsend, WA
Tuesday, August 15, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
Port Townsend Marine Trades Association Meeting (with quorum of Port Commission)
Topic of Discussion: Leases
https://portofpt.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-08-15-CommMtg-Special-Meeting-Agenda.pdf
