Ref. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/dnr-adds-more-1700-acres-conservation-lands-during-2023
Land transfers across the state will protect native species, aid in public education, and protect Washington’s natural environment for future generations
Throughout 2023, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources acquired 1,726 acres of lands to set aside for conservation. Each of the 10 land acquisitions will enhance or expand conservation areas across the state.
The land transactions, spanning from the coasts of the Olympic Peninsula to the meadows of the Columbia River Gorge, will protect habitats for rare plants and wildlife and provide educational opportunities for the public.
“I am so proud of what DNR has done to conserve lands for the next generations,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “Each of these land acquisitions is a crucial step forward in preserving and protecting our environment and they provide a great opportunity for Washingtonians to learn more about the lands around us. This is a win for our environment, a win for the public, and a win for Washington state.”
DNR’s Natural Areas program manages 169,000 acres of conservation lands across 97 areas. Natural Area Preserves protect the best remaining examples of many ecological communities, including rare plant and animal habitat. Natural Resources Conservation Areas protect outstanding examples of native ecosystems, habitat for endangered, threatened and sensitive plants and animals, and scenic landscapes, while allowing for environmental education and low-impact public use where compatible with conservation.
These acquisitions are in addition to the 2,000 acres Commissioner Franz announced would be set aside for conservation in December, and are part of ongoing conservation efforts by DNR.
Funding for the acquisitions came from the Legislature, primarily through Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Grants administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
KING COUNTY
Mount Si Natural Resources Conservation Area : This 600-acre acquisition provides crucial wildlife habitat in an urban area along the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Distinctive physical features include talus, high- and low-elevation lakes, numerous streams, wetlands, old-growth and mature forests, cliffs, and landscape connections for wildlife.
THURSTON COUNTY
Kennedy Creek Natural Area: This 5-acre acquisition will help further protect the Kennedy Creek riparian corridor, enhance protection of the Kennedy Creek Natural Area, and maintain and potentially expand the salmon education trail. The Kennedy Creek Natural Area is home to one of Washington’s few remaining high-quality marsh communities.
Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve: This 39-acre acquisition will help conserve the habitat and expand opportunities for education about oak forests, wet prairies, and rare ecosystems. Scientific research will also take place.
KITSAP COUNTY
Stavis Natural Resources Conservation Area: This 5-acre project will increase opportunities for low-impact public use, build awareness of the value of conservation, and potentially serve as a recreation access point for views of the Hood Canal and the Olympics.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Dabob Bay Natural Area: A 780-acre addition to Dabob Bay Natural Area via the Trust Land Transfer process completed the transfer of former DNR-managed trust lands into permanent conservation inside the boundary of the natural area. The nearly 800 acres surrounding the bay will be managed to maintain and enhance the forest ecosystem while offering opportunities to develop public access to the conservation area in the future.
In addition to those 780 acres, DNR acquired 14 acres from a private landowner that protects shoreline and will be used as an environmental education classroom for high school and college students.
CLARK COUNTY
Washougal Oaks Natural Area: Two separate transactions grew the Washougal Oaks Natural Area this year. A 155-acre acquisition adds significant acreage to the natural area for oak forest protection and restoration. Adjacent road access to the site will offer a good location for classroom tours for high school and college students to learn about the ecosystem, as well as the practice of conservation land management and restoration.
A 38-acre addition to Washougal Oaks Natural Area helps conserve the habitat for rare plants. It offers an excellent location for research, restoration, and environmental education visits for high school and college classrooms.
Lacamas Prairie Natural Area: This 2-acre acquisition adds to the wet prairie ecosystem at Lacamas Prairie and buffers the sensitive wetland ecosystems from adjacent development.
CHELAN COUNTY
Upper Dry Gulch: This 86-acre acquisition of a species-rich portion of the Upper Dry Gulch Natural Area Preserve adds significant rare plant habitat and potential educational access for schools and the public through interpretive displays.
IN OTHER STATE HEADLINES:
AG Ferguson: Lumen will pay $825,000 to 1,099 customers over illegal pandemic disconnections.
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Lumen, formerly CenturyLink, will pay a total of $825,000 to 1,099 Washington telephone customers it disconnected during the pandemic in violation of the emergency health and safety moratorium. The payment resolves two separate investigations by Ferguson’s Public Counsel Unit and his Consumer Protection Division./WAAG
New report shows air pollution hits Washington’s most vulnerable the hardest.
OLYMPIA –
In a new report from the Washington Department of Ecology, researchers investigated health data for 16 overburdened areas of Washington and found people in these communities face a higher death rate from air pollution than the state average./DOE
Gov. Inslee appoints Cadine Ferguson-Brown to the Kitsap County Superior Court.
Ferguson-Brown was first appointed by Inslee in 2022 to the Mason County Superior Court, where she became known for her fair, even-handed and well-considered decisions. During her tenure, she presided over four departments, hearing a variety of complex civil and criminal law matters. In the juvenile department, she worked with staff and stakeholders to create a more people-friendly courtroom and streamlined processes to reduce delays in other departments. Ferguson-Brown was also active in the Superior Court Judges Association, joining the Certified Professional Guardianship and Conservatorship Board, Minority and Justice Commission, the Bench Bar Press and other civil and criminal committees. / Governor's office
Lewis County nursing assistant and massage therapist licenses suspended on rape charges.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health suspended the licenses of Lewis County certified nursing assistant (NC60680346) and massage therapist (MA61107184) Michael P. Frietze pending further legal action./DOH
State revokes, suspends licenses, certifications, registrations of health care providers.
Clallam County
In November 2023 the secretary of health indefinitely suspended the agency affiliated counselor and substance use disorder professional trainee licenses of Sara Elizabeth Ramirez (CG61248008, CO61139512). Prior to petitioning for reinstatement, Ramirez must contact a monitoring program and, if required, enroll in the monitoring program. In October 2022, Ramirez tested positive for amphetamines.
In November 2023 the secretary of health suspended the social worker associate independent clinical and agency affiliated counselor licenses of Olivia A. Joelson (CG61045549, SC61158973). Joelson may not petition for reinstatement for three years. Prior to petitioning for reinstatement, Joelson must pay a $2,000 fine and complete a professional boundaries course. In March 2021, Joelson entered a romantic relationship with a patient./DOH
2) WORLD < NATIONAL < BUSINESS
WORLD:
Secretary-General Appoints Andrew Paul Saberton of United Kingdom Deputy Executive Director (Management), United Nations Population Fund
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Andrew Paul Saberton of the United Kingdom as Assistant Secretary-General to serve as Deputy Executive Director (Management) of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Mr. Saberton succeeds Ib Petersen of Denmark, to whom the Secretary-General and the Executive Director of UNFPA are grateful for his dedicated service./UN PRESS RELEASE
After 12 Months of Widespread Suffering, Violence, Climate Chaos, 2024 Must Be Year for Rebuilding Trust, Restoring Hope, Secretary-General Says in New Year’s Message./ UN PRESS RELEASE
Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands Appointed Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza pursuant to Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023). In this role, she will facilitate, coordinate, monitor and verify humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza. She will also establish a United Nations mechanism to accelerate humanitarian relief consignments to Gaza through States which are not party to the conflict. In executing these functions, she will be supported by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Ms. Kaag is expected to begin her assignment on 8 January 2024./UN PRESS RELEASE
Marking Five Years Since Paul Whelan’s Wrongful Detention.
December 28 marks five years since Russian authorities wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan. After a secret trial behind closed doors, Paul has spent years laboring in a Russian penal colony. In the past year alone, he has faced assault from other prisoners and harassment from Russian state-run media.
For far too long, Paul and his family have suffered the consequences of the Russian government’s decision to wrongfully detain U.S. citizens. Using people as political pawns is unacceptable. Since President Biden took office, the United States has secured the release of more than forty wrongful detainees, and not a day goes by without intensive U.S. Government efforts to bring Paul home. We will not rest until he is safely back with his family where he belongs./US STATE DEPT.
Countering Houthi Maritime Attacks.
The United States is today designating one individual and three entities for facilitating Iranian financial assistance to the Houthis that enables attacks on international shipping and other destabilizing activities. Those designated today have facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of U.S.-designated Sa’id al-Jamal, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force-backed Houthi financial facilitator based in Iran./US STATE DEPT.
NATION:
Sexual Assault Now Tried Outside Military Chain of Command.
This military justice reform is an important step in restoring faith that the system is fair, just and equitable, said senior Defense Department and military officials, who emphasized that the offices will be staffed by specially trained, independent military attorneys uniquely qualified to address complex cases. The OSTCs will handle cases professionally, applying the best practices and procedures of civilian prosecution offices, a senior DOD official said./DOD
Fact Sheet: Justice Department Improvements to the Clemency Process.
The Justice Department is entrusted with the important responsibility of receiving and reviewing applications for executive clemency and making recommendations to the President in support of his exercise of the constitutional clemency power. In fulfilling this responsibility, the department is committed to improving the clemency application process to make it more transparent, accessible and user-friendly. The department is taking a series of actions to reform and streamline the clemency application process./DOJ
$3.6 Million EPA Grant to Ontario, Calif., to Spur Recycling, Reduce Food Waste.
SAN FRANCISO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a $3,571,064 grant to the City of Ontario, Calif., to help the city upgrade its recycling collection infrastructure and reduce food waste through a new digital donation tool. The award comes from EPA’s Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants program, which has received substantial funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and President Biden’s Investing in America agenda./EPA
Raimondo Statement on Steel and Aluminum Tariff Rate Quota Extension.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo released the following statement after President Biden signed two Presidential Proclamations to extend the European Union’s access to U.S. tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for steel and aluminum for two additional years./US DEPT. OF COMMERCE
Interior Department Announces Landsat 2030 International Partnership Initiative.
Landsat – a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – is the only U.S. satellite system designed and operated to collect essential data on Earth’s geologic formations, natural habitats, farmlands, cities, lakes, glaciers, coastlines and other surface features. Landsat provides imagery at landscape-scale resolution that can be used to support the Department’s efforts to improve environmental sustainability, climate change resiliency, and economic growth – all while expanding an unparalleled record of Earth's changing landscapes./ DEPT. of INTERIOR PRESS RELEASE DATED 12/20/23
BUSINESS:
Justice Department Secures Agreement from North Carolina-Based Towing Company to Resolve Violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act./DOJ
Treasury Targets Network Financing Houthi Attacks on International Shipping.
“Today’s action underscores our resolve to restrict the illicit flow of funds to the Houthis, who continue to conduct dangerous attacks on international shipping and risk further destabilizing the region,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “The United States, along with our allies and partners, will continue to target the key facilitation networks that enable the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their backers in Iran.”/ US TREASURY DEPT.
Treasury, IRS provide guidance for certain clean energy producers related to domestic content; request additional comments for upcoming regulations./IRS
Treasury, IRS request public comments on product identification number requirement to claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit./IRS
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR COMPLETED IMPACT INSPECTIONS AT 14 MINES WITH HISTORIES OF REPEATED SAFETY, HEALTH VIOLATIONS IN NOVEMBER 2023/DEPT. of LABOR dated 12/21/23
IN FOCUS & LOCAL MEETINGS FOR 12/30/23
https://pr2345.blogspot.com/p/in-focus-local-meetings-for-123023.html
