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Marmot Pass in The Olympics
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Historic Heat Wave, Hundreds Die
A few years back I was hearing residents congratulate themselves on how our little, unspoiled corner of paradise would become a destination for climate refugees as we continue on our disasterous path of doing far too little, too late to address climate change. This assumption was seriously challenged by the recent heat dome where record temperatures fell left and right, from Northern California to British Columbia, and hundreds died.
With climate change, will eastern Jefferson County have enough water--to drink, fight fires, grow crops--is a topic of one of this month's articles on the future of the Olympic Gravity Water System. Expanding the Trans Mountain Pipeline, a misguided project that risks oil spills in our waters and promises to add still more C02 to our atmosphere, is the topic of this month's membership meeting.
If there was any time to take personal and political action to reverse climate change, this is it. One way--consider volunteering to help the North Olympic Sierra Club interview candidates for local office who will champion the environment if elected this year. We need members in Sequim and Port Angeles to help out.
Peter Guerrero, editor
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July Membership Meeting: Stop the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion, Thursday July 15, 7:30PM, on Zoom
Sierra Club organizer Stephanie Hillman, our guest this month, will talk about what you can do to stop the Trans Mountain Pipeline, a very timely discussion as hundreds have died in Vancouver, BC, alone during the recent climate change induced, historic heat wave.
If completed, the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline would promote expanded oil production in Canada's tar sands, triple the pipeline's capacity, add 143 million tons of CO2 to the atmosphere, increase oil tanker traffic in the Salish Sea by 700%, harm marine wildlife and accelerate the destruction of Canada's boreal forests. Reasons enough to find out how you can help? Join us at our membership meeting this month.
RSVPs Required for Zoom Link
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Sierra Club Expresses Concerns About the Future of Port Townsend's Water
The availability of water--to drink, fight fires, grow crops--is at risk with climate change. Port Townnsend ran perilously close to running out of water in the 2015 drought and is once again facing similar risks this year. The City's white papers, developed to support the negotiation of a new water use agreement with the paper mill, highlights multiple challenges we face if our taps are to continue to flow in the future. Finding ways to incentivize water conservation, especially by the paper mill which consumes over 90% of all water--a whopping 11 million gallons a day--is key to ensuring adequate water for everyone in a water scarce future. Click here to read our stakeholder comments.
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Port Townsend Reservoir, 2015 Drought
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Recycling in Jefferson County, Part Two: The Problem with Plastics
We have been trained to think that anything with those chasing arrows is recyclable. The problem is that the numbers were never meant to be used to indicate recyclability. They were created by the plastics industry in the 1980’s to indicate the main type of plastic in the item, not it’s recyclability. It was designed before there were widespread recycling systems in place. The number system is outdated and misleading.
The only plastic with even marginal value is bottles and jugs labeled #1 or #2. Only #1 bottles are pure PET or PETE. The problem lies with the other items labeled #1. Although the base materials is PETE, the manufacturers can alter the composition of the plastic depending on its designed end-use. The result is that not all #1 PETE products can be mixed together for recycling. When these other items are melted down, the various non-PETE components melt at different temperatures and/or contaminate the mixture, making them unrecyclable. That is why the #1 lettuce tub or #1 clamshell cannot be recycled in Jefferson County. Some people complain because they used to be able to put all numbers, or all #1s in a bin somewhere else. That’s because China and other countries were willing to take all our plastic, pull out the valuable plastic, and burn the rest.
One of the biggest problems we face is “wish cycling” where the consumer hopes that the odd plastic item will somehow magically be transformed into something new if placed in the bin. This behavior contaminates our recycling, sometimes sending the good plastic to the landfill along with the bad. A recent audit of our recycling revealed a 30% contamination of our plastic and cans at drop boxes in Port Ludlow and Port Townsend, with Quilcene coming in at 15% contaminated.
On top of all this, plastic can only be recycled once into fleece clothing, carpet or composite decking, or other materials. Then it breaks down into microplastics that can be eaten by small organisms causing them to die when their digestive systems are full of non-digestible plastic. Plastic is forever. It will never break down into something a plant or animal can eat.
Tips for Living with Less Plastic
• Bring your own shopping bag with reusable produce bags.
• Carry a reusable water bottle.
• Pack your lunch in reusable containers.
• Bring a reusable cup.
• Store leftovers in glass jars.
• Say “no” to disposable straws, napkins, and cutlery; carry reusable ones in your car.
Thanks to Laura Tucker for this series on Recycling in Jefferson County. For more information on recycling in Jefferson County, click here:
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Preserve Miller Peninsula's Unique Ecosystem
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is developing long-range plans for Miller Peninsula State Park, a 2,800-acre undeveloped park of continuous forest in eastern Clallam County, and the nearby smaller Sequim Bay State Park. The Miller Peninsula site currently includes a trail system for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians through a beautiful second-growth forest. It also includes very limited access to the three miles of saltwater shoreline on the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Discovery Bay. Parks is in the process of taking comments on three designs until July 18 that would change this park dramatically by developing 100-170 overnight camp sites and playing fields of various sorts for adults and children. These plans run counter to maintaining the integrity of the site and preserving its natural ambience.
The Sierra Club proposes that the site be maintained as is, maintaining its unique wooded groves, clusters of unique plant communities, native plants, and animal life dependent on the habitat. Given drought conditions and lack of potable water in that area, it makes sense to maintain and protect this contiguous forest for day-use hikers, bikers and equestrians. Doing so also preserves the area as low maintenance for our cash-strapped state parks.
Please write Parks and insist that the forest be kept intact, the present ecosystem be respected and protected, and that it be used as an educational nature park for teaching visitors about the site’s natural, complex ecosystem. It should offer an experience of quietude, wonderment and discovery.
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Miller Peninsula State Park
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Reminder: Still Time to Comment on Ecology’s Approach on Managing Sewage Sludge
A critical problem is that Ecology focuses on “best management practices” rather than the “best available science” for regulating toxic contaminants in sewage. Ask them to use the best available science standard in their proposed general permit.
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North Olympic Book Group
Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees
By Thor Hanson
"Bees helped shape the natural world where our own species evolved and their story often commingles with our own. The subtitle of this book guides its content: it's an exploration of how the very nature of bees makes them so utterly necessary. To understand them, and ultimately to help them, we should appreciate not only where bees came from and how they work, but also why they've become one of the only insects to inspire more fondness than fear. The story of bees begins with biology, but it also tells us about ourselves."
July 11, 7PM Zoom
RSVP required.
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House Passes Bill to Support Puget Sound Recovery
Congressman Kilmer's co-sponsored bill, with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, provides millions of dollars in funding to restore the orca population, protect salmon, and uphold tribal treaty rights.
The recent passage of this bill in the House is a critical step toward ensuring future generations have access to Puget Sound's natural resources. Now we need the Senate to act too.
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The North Olympic Group's website is updated to reflect current environmental issues and club events. Members are encouraged to periodically check it out.
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