BURN BANS * Burn-ban in King County to be lifted Friday http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377568_burnban03.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377568_burnban03.html> TRANSPORTATION CHOICES * With gas up, how to get down to school? http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377685_schooltravel04.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377685_schooltravel04.html> Some students, educators walk, bike, car pool TRANSPORTATION PLANNING * Editorial: Transportation -- A better grid http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377464_transed.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377464_transed.html> For the next few years, the biggest field for immediate transportation gains will be in transit. Getting more people onto buses, trolleys and trains will be critical to maintaining economic competitiveness, improving the environment and maintaining personal mobility. * Editorial: Alaskan Way Viaduct -- Bus by bus http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377619_viaducted.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377619_viaducted.html> One thing that's been clear from the start: Replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct will require a whole lot of mitigation. That's true for a new elevated structure, a ground-level freeway, a tunnel or even plain deconstruction of the current concrete freeway. Every option leaves a mess downtown that will last several years. AIR POLLUTION * Scientists track Asian pollution http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/environment/story/471063.html <http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/environment/story/471063.html> >From 500 miles up in space, satellites track brown clouds of dust, soot and other toxic pollutants from China and elsewhere in Asia as they stream across the Pacific, taking dead aim on the Northwest and the rest of the Western United States. CLIMATE PROTECTION * Hot air over global warming http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377622_hotair04.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377622_hotair04.html> * Strongest storms grow stronger yet, study says. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/science/04cyclone.html?_r=1&oref=slogi n <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/science/04cyclone.html?_r=1&oref=slog in> A new study finds that the strongest of hurricanes and typhoons have become even stronger over the last two and a half decades, adding grist to the contentious debate over whether global warming has already made storms more destructive <<Strongest Storms Grow Stronger Yet, Study Says - NYTimes_com.htm>> * Global warming 'heat stress' a threat to nations. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/03/ap5384648.html <http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/09/03/ap5384648.html> Climate change is likely to first hurt developing countries which could become almost too hot to successfully grow essential crops, international experts told a conference Wednesday. ENERGY * Assessing the value of small wind turbines. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/business/04wind.html <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/business/04wind.html> Interest for wind turbines small enough to mount on a roof is spreading from coast to coast, even though their installation is hardly ever recouped in electricity savings. <<Assessing the Value of Small Wind Turbines - NYTimes_com.htm>> * Wind power's early adopters soothe the conscience, but save few bucks. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122049021893397541.html <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122049021893397541.html> Personal wind turbines, once the purview of the hemp-and-granola crowd, are fast becoming a status symbol in Hollywood, Washington and places in between. Call them vanity clean-energy contraptions for the high-power set. <<Wind Power's Early Adopters Soothe The Conscience, but Save Few Bucks - WSJ_com.htm>> * U.S. must increase nuclear power. http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL419735920080904 <http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL419735920080904> The United States needs to start generating more of its power from nuclear energy, but will still have to rely on coal and oil for the foreseeable future, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy said on Thursday. Bill Smith Senior Environmental Specialist City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management 3510 S. Mullen Street Tacoma, WA 98409 253-593-7719 Phone 253-591-5547 Fax