PM 2.5 NONATTAINMENT * Tacoma Air Trouble -- and PSCAA's Wood Stove Replacement program http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=18567 * EPA says Tacoma must clean up its air http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410946_tacoma08.html The Tacoma area was one of 31 across the country on Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency identified as not meeting the standard for fine particle air pollution such as dust, smoke and soot. The pollution can come from such sources as car exhaust, but in Tacoma's case a prime source is winter heating. In cold periods, use of fuel-oil furnaces and wood stoves increase often at a time of stagnant air. EPA officials have said local governments in the Tacoma area already are working on the problem. * Tacoma's dirty air ranks among 31 most-polluted places in U.S. http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/environment/story/910000.html In anticipation of the listing, several elements of a pollution control plan have been instituted in Tacoma. They include measures taken by the Port of Tacoma to reduce diesel exhaust, efforts by the city and Pierce County to move to less polluting vehicles, and programs intended to motivate consumers to weatherize their homes. * EPA designates "nonattainment" areas for fine particle air pollution http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d96f984dfb3ff7718525735900400c29/c7ea2f8196f225748525764900706d2f!OpenDocument The five nonattainment areas in the Northwest and Alaska all have more air pollution problems in the winter from home heating sources including older wood stoves and oil furnaces. In addition, during stagnant weather conditions with cold temperatures and limited air movement, pollution may "pool" in an area rather than dissipate. * EPA Lists Areas Violating Daily Air Pollution Requirements 31 locations not meeting 24-hour fine particle standards http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/ee3e8db020a8b8ed85257649005b266c!OpenDocument WOOD BURNING * Burning wood for heat poses risks to people and environment http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2009news/2009-242.html Ecology and local clean air agencies try to curb wood-smoke pollution using burn bans, education and programs that pay part of the cost of new, cleaner-burning home-heating devices. For example, Ecology recently provided nearly $1 million in grant money to local clean air agencies for such change-out programs. AIR QUALITY & HEALTH * Air Pollution May Trigger Appendicitis http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005123038.htm Appendicitis cases increased dramatically in industrialized countries in the 19th and early 20th centuries, then decreased in the middle and late 20th century, coinciding with legislation to improve air quality. The incidence of appendicitis has been growing in developing countries as they become more industrialized. PORTS * Residents near port want more air quality protection http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_100709WAB-georgetown-pollution-KS.1f497797c.html * Port Trucks http://www.komonews.com/home/video/63692647.html DIESEL * State's 'Pirates' ship too dirty for Calif. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2010021075_ladywashington08m.html Washington's official state ship, the venerable Lady Washington, is no longer welcome in California. Despite its 4,442 square feet of sail power, the ship also employs a 60-year-old diesel engine that fails to meet California's air-pollution standards... The Korean War-era diesel engine already was 40 years old when it was installed in the Lady W in 1989. It has been "a rock star" when it comes to reliability, Bolton said. "Once you get it started, it will run forever." But it runs dirty, emitting too much black diesel exhaust, he said... "We represent the state of Washington, and we feel we should do the right thing and upgrade to a cleaner engine." VEHICLES * Nissan's electric vehicle tilts into corners http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010020993_apasjapanautoshownissan.html Nissan's Land Glider electric vehicle tilts from side to side, sashaying into curves by up to a 17-degree angle, as though showing off in a fashion statement that it's zero-emissions. CLIMATE * Are the Governors our best hope for the climate? http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1927621,00.html/n The governors who have gathered in Los Angeles are pushing from the bottom up, demonstrating that there is political will to deal with climate change. * Just how sensitive is Earth's climate to atmospheric carbon dioxide? http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-sensitive-is-climate-to-carbon-dioxide Carbon dioxide levels climbing toward a doubling of the 280 parts per million concentration found in the preindustrial atmosphere pose the question: What impact will this increased greenhouse gas load have on the climate? * Pacific Ocean 'dead zone' in Northwest may be irreversible. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oregon-ocean9-2009oct09,0,4615320.story Oxygen depletion that is killing sea life off Oregon and Washington is probably caused by evolving wind conditions from climate change, rather than pollution, one oceanographer warns * Commentary: The threat from the other two bombs: debt and climate change http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010018216_friedman08.html As we continue to build up carbon in the atmosphere to unprecedented levels, we never know when the next emitted carbon molecule will tip over some ecosystem and trigger a nonlinear climate event - like melting the Siberian tundra and releasing all of its methane, or drying up the Amazon or melting all the sea ice in the North Pole in summer. And when one ecosystem collapses, it can trigger unpredictable changes in others that could alter our whole world. REGISTERED SOURCES * Business on EMW seeks to increase Diesel Emissions <<http://www.blogginggeorgetown.com/2009/10/business-on-emw-seeks-to-increase.html>> The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is soliciting comments from the public through November 8th, on the application from Saint-Gobain Container Corporation, 5800 East Marginal Way. ECOLOGY * Ecology Director Jay Manning named Gregoire's chief of staff http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2010005243_department_of_ecology_director.html NOTE: If the hyperlink to the article fails, contact Consuelo Davis. Consuelo Davis Communications Dept. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency 206-689-4074 consueloD@pscleanair.org 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