FINE PARTICLE POLLUTION/HEALTH * Air Pollution Harms Patients After Heart Attack http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080909/hl_hsn/airpollutionharmspatientsaft erheartattack;_ylt=Ak1vi1toiDJ7i6dkbpzlbXJpl88F <http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080909/hl_hsn/airpollutionharmspatientsaf terheartattack;_ylt=Ak1vi1toiDJ7i6dkbpzlbXJpl88F> Tiny particles in air pollution can harm people with coronary artery disease by crippling the ability of the heart to conduct electrical signals, Harvard University researchers report... Gold's group also looked at the average 24-hour levels for all pollutants in Boston. They found that these levels were below accepted or proposed National Air Quality Standard thresholds. REGISTERED SOURCE * Composting company given deadline to trace stench http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080906/NEWS01/709069892&SearchID=7332 9443995915 <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080906/NEWS01/709069892&SearchID=733 29443995915> Some say the air at their homes smells better than it did earlier this summer; others say it doesn't... After the first round of complaints, Cedar Grove began adding odor control liquid to the grinder. It cleaned out its leachate tank, which collects pungent drainage from the lawn clippings and other organic material after it is trucked in. Incoming loads are inspected more closely for foul-smelling material and the companies that send waste to Cedar Grove have been notified that especially foul-smelling loads will be sent back, company officials said. Now, the company is investigating seven different possible sources, according to a letter from Cedar Grove's attorney to the Clean Air Agency. These include the grinder, the leachate collection system, and the addition of leachate back into the material to keep it moist enough for the grinder. TOXICS * EPA to let businesses use Web to disclose violations http://seattle.bizjournals.com/extraedge/washingtonbureau/archive/2008/0 8/18/bureau3.html?market=seattle <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/extraedge/washingtonbureau/archive/2008/ 08/18/bureau3.html?market=seattle> Companies nationwide will be able to use the secure eDisclosure system to report violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, including failure to submit reports on toxic chemical releases. TRANSPORTATION CHOICES * Washington: The best state for cyclists http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure/2008/09/10/washington_the_best _state_for_cyclists <http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure/2008/09/10/washington_the_bes t_state_for_cyclists> The criteria for the rankings included responses to questionnaires, legislation, policies, programs, infrastructure, education and many other factors. Washington was followed by Wisconsin, Arizona and Oregon. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING * Sound Transit's light rail plan may cut traffic 30%, says study http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/378597_sound11.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/378597_sound11.html> Supporters hope report will sway voters * Bus service expanded between Lynnwood and Smokey Point to meet demand <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080911/NEWS01/709119869#Bus.service. expanded.between.Lynnwood.and.Smokey.Point.to.meet.demand <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080911/NEWS01/709119869#Bus.service. expanded.between.Lynnwood.and.Smokey.Point.to.meet.demand> > Community Transit is set to increase bus service between Lynnwood and Smokey Point to meet increased demand for service, starting on Sept. 21. The change should allow people to catch a bus every 15 minutes at the Lynnwood Transit Center or Everett Station heading to Smokey Point via Marysville. CLIMATE * Global warming: Evidence is much more than hot air http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/378606_climaterebut11.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/378606_climaterebut11.html> * Old forests capture plenty of carbon. http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080910/full/news.2008.1092.html <http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080910/full/news.2008.1092.html> Old forests continue to accumulate carbon at a much greater rate than researchers had previously thought, making them more important as carbon sinks that must be factored into global climate models, researchers say. * Bottled Water Demand May Be Declining http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5878 <http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5878> The bottled products also demand significant amounts of energy to be produced, packaged, stored, and transported. While cities recycle about 23 percent of their plastic bottles, some 2 million tons of the bottles are sent to landfills each year. DIESEL * Money, health at center of fight over diesel rules. <http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_adctlid=v%7Cjq2q43wvsl855o%7C xecyx6eozid0t7&issueId=xecbu8zmaxdti9&xid=xecczbhp8utvov <http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_adctlid=v%7Cjq2q43wvsl855o%7C xecyx6eozid0t7&issueId=xecbu8zmaxdti9&xid=xecczbhp8utvov> > Looming regulations to curb diesel soot from a million trucks and school buses are certain to have enormous public health and financial impacts here while serving as a national model 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