MERCURY * Report: Cement Plants Big Mercury Polluters http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-7346 20.mp3 <http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-734 620.mp3> Two cement plants in Seattle are among dozens nationwide that altogether spew tons of mercury into the air each year. * Seattle's cement plants puff out toxic mercury, report says http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069635_cement24m0.ht ml <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069635_cement24m0.h tml> The two Seattle plants, hulking mazes of conveyor belts and smokestacks visible from the West Seattle Bridge, puff out as much as 100 pounds of mercury each year, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the companies. That's just a tiny fraction of the 23,000 pounds of mercury the EPA estimates comes from U.S. cement plants every year. And it's far below the record-setting levels from a cement plant in Eastern Oregon. That facility, in Durkee, Ore., is thought to be the biggest single industrial source of mercury in the country - at more than 2,500 pounds per year. But Eric Schaeffer, of the Integrity Project, said even small amounts of the potent brain poison are a problem. EPA NEWS * Agencies asked to ease safety rules -- White House tries to push changes on asbestos, toxins http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371959_asbestos24.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371959_asbestos24.html> A panel of scientific advisers this week denounced an Environmental Protection Agency plan to quickly alter the way it measures the cancer-causing risk of asbestos, but the thumbs-down doesn't prevent the agency from making the change anyway. * Cosmic Markdown: EPA Says Life Is Worth Less http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR200807 1803235_pf.html <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR20080 71803235_pf.html> Last week, it was revealed that an Environmental Protection Agency office had lowered its official estimate of life's value, from about $8.04 million to about $7.22 million. That decision has put a spotlight on the concept of the "Value of a Statistical Life," in which the Washington bureaucracy takes on a question usually left to preachers and poets... "By reducing the value of human life, which is really a devious way of cooking the books, the perceived benefits of cleaning up the air seem less," said Frank O'Donnell of the District-based group Clean Air Watch. "That has the effect of weakening the case for pollution cleanup." TRANSPORTATION PLANNING * Multibillion-dollar rail, bus plan is up to voters -- Expansion would be funded with 0.5% higher sales tax http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372210_soundtransit25.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372210_soundtransit25.html> * Transit tax heads to vote -- $17.9 billion plan would extend light rail, expand trains and buses http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/423272.html <http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/423272.html> The 15-year plan would pay for additional regional bus service from Lakewood and Tacoma to Sea-Tac Airport and Seattle and add four round-trip Sounder trains from Tacoma and Lakewood through the Puyallup and Green River valleys. It also would provide matching funds for a possible extension of the Link rail line in downtown Tacoma to Tacoma General Hospital or to the Puyallup Tribe casino and planned resort on Tacoma's East Side. * $17.9 billion transit plan headed for ballot http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008071029_websoundtrans it24m.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008071029_websoundtran sit24m.html> Voters in November will consider a $17.9 billion plan to extend light rail to Lynnwood, Overlake and north Federal Way, and to expand bus service. * Fix traffic by increasing transit options, forum participants say http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069660_surveyresults 24m.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069660_surveyresult s24m.html> More than 450 King County residents think traffic congestion is the largest transportation problem facing the county. And they also say expanded public transit is the preferred solution. * Peak tolls on 520 bridge could be as high as $6.85 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069730_520tolls24m.h tml <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069730_520tolls24m. html> Some worry that drivers who now cross Lake Washington on the bridge would jam other highways as they sought non-tolled routes. One predicted most drivers would find other routes "just out of principle." CLIMATE * EPA: Few volunteering to cut greenhouse gases http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080724/ap_on_go_ot/global_warming_voluntari sm;_ylt=ArXYanGOU6JelcRf.f.jU8QPLBIF <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080724/ap_on_go_ot/global_warming_voluntar ism;_ylt=ArXYanGOU6JelcRf.f.jU8QPLBIF> Voluntary pollution-reduction programs touted by the Bush administration as part of the solution to global warming have "limited potential" to reduce greenhouse gases, according to an internal government watchdog. The Environmental Protection Agency's Inspector General's Office said industry's unwillingness to participate and unreliable data that casts doubt on claimed reductions are hindering efforts to control some of the most potent greenhouse gases from aluminum smelters, landfills, coal mines and large farms... The report does not cover efforts to address the most plentiful greenhouse gas - carbon dioxide - or the biggest sources of it, transportation and electric power plants. * Group proposes climate-saving strategy -- Washington part of coalition that suggests emissions cap http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371948_climate24.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371948_climate24.html> Tired of a lack of leadership at the national level, Western leaders are taking charge on curbing climate change by proposing a plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. * Western States to Cap Global Warming Pollution After 2012 http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=15425 <http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=15425> West Coast states will put an overall cap on global warming pollution starting in 2012. That timeline is included in a first look at how Western states and provinces will meet a shared regional goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions. * Western governors offer greenhouse emissions plan http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008070020_apgreenhous egases.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008070020_apgreenhou segases.html> Seven Western states are joining four Canadian provinces to propose a plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions through use of a "cap and trade" system. The draft plan, made public Wednesday by Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski's office, is aimed at gradually reducing carbon emissions across Oregon, Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Washington. * Christians taking on role as environmentalists -- Many believe humans must be Earth's stewards http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371963_greenfaith24.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371963_greenfaith24.html> ENERGY * Commentary: Al Gore, T. Boone Pickens are unlikely allies http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/371924_means24.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/371924_means24.html> * Editorial: Al Gore -- Carbon-free juice http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/372106_gored.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/372106_gored.html> A carbon-free future can become reality -- if the nation is willing to invest money, creativity and national spirit. This type of impossible goal is exactly MARITIME * California adopts stiff pollution rules for ships. http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-pollution25-20 08jul25,0,7787427.story <http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-pollution25-2 008jul25,0,7787427.story> California regulators adopted the world's toughest pollution rules for oceangoing vessels Thursday, vowing to improve the health of coastal residents. <<California adopts stiff pollution rules for ships - Los Angeles Times.htm>> NOTE: If the hyperlink to the article fails, contact Consuelo Flores. 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