Dungeness Water Rule Might be Challenged in Court

A few of the local wing-, er, "property rights" brigade might be filing a lawsuit against the new Dungeness water rule, officially known as the In-Stream Flow Rule for WRIA 18 East.  Members of the Port Angeles Business Association and the North Peninsula Building Association are raising money to hire an attorney.  Kaj Ahlburg said:

“We hope to have the inflow stream rule invalidated.” 

Fisher Might Be Added to Endangered Species List

The fisher was recently reintroduced from Canada to Olympic National Park.  It's already on the state Endangered Species List, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering adding it to the federal Endangered Species List as well.

The Return of Mr. Floatie

Mr. Floatie — James Skwarok dressed in a, uh, costume to portray Victoria's dumping of raw sewage into the Strait of Juan de Fuca — made his first appearance in 2005. Sometime after that, Victoria developed plans for a $783 million sewage treatment plant.  But now, because of budget problems, Victoria might postpone the sewage plant completion from 2018 to 2040.

In response, Mr. Floatie has returned.

And today's Peninsula Poll question is:

Should local and state governments from this side of the border speak out to Victoria about its sewage in the Strait of Juan de Fuca?

 With 839 votes cast, the results are:

Yes — 91.3%
No — 7.5%
Undecided — 1.2%

Executives from North Olympic Timber Action Committee to Speak at PABA meeting

Two leaders of the North Olympic Timber Action Committee (NOTAC) will be the guests at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.  Carol Johnson, Executive Director, and Harry Bell, President, will be discussing alternatives to the proposed federal Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2012.

Harry Bell is also chief forester for Green Crow Corp.

Protest Outside Wal-Mart on Black Friday

About thirty to forty people were protesting outside the Port Angeles Wal-Mart this past Friday.  Six or seven Wal-Mart employees were among the protesters.

One of the Wal-Mart employees who took part in the protest said:

“We had a lot of community support.  We want them to respect us and give us fair wages and fair staffing...I do enjoy my job.  I like the company, but the guys with the ties have taken it too far.”

Aquaculture Executive to Speak at Chamber of Commerce Luncheon

Alan Cook, vice president of aquaculture for Icicle Seafoods, will be the guest at today's Chamber of Commerce luncheon.  Icicle Seafoods is affiliated with American Gold Seafoods, which operates 120 fish farms in Port Angeles Harbor and off the coasts of Bainbridge Island, Hope Island and Cypress Island.

Concerns Over New Lauridsen Bridge Design

A new Lauridsen Boulevard bridge is slated for construction beginning this March or April.  But the bridge design doesn't include any guard rails between the street and the sidewalk.  Several residents expressed concerns about this at a recent open house.

Temporary Air Quality Monitors Funded by ORCAA

The Olympic Regional Clean Air Agency will provide funding for four air quality monitors, three in Port Angeles and one in Sequim.  These monitors will be used for a 2-year study to gauge emissions from the biomass projects in Port Angeles and Port Townsend.

Possible Longer Shifts for Port Angeles Police Officers

Port Angeles police officers might start working fewer days a week but with longer shifts.  Local police and fire dispatchers recently switched to twelve-hour shifts with more days off, and Police Chief Terry Gallagher says the change has been positive:

"Our dispatchers came up with the plan to change shift lengths.  What we found was a decrease in overtime and a dramatic drop in sick time because employees had longer rest periods and could better plan time with their families."

School Superintendent to Speak at PABA meeting

Jane Pryne, Port Angeles School District Superintendent, will be the guest at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.

Fuel Spill in Port Angeles Harbor

An 840 gallon heavy fuel spill was reported at 3:20 a.m. today in Port Angeles Harbor.  A fuel barge owned by Harley Marine Services was overfilled during fueling operations at the Tesoro Port Angeles Terminal.

A precautionary oil boom had been placed around the barge by Global Diving and Salvage, and this has apparently contained most of the spill.

Port Angeles Liquor Store Moving; Other Area Stores Closing

The liquor store in Port Angeles will be moving in mid-November to 116 Race Street. Two liquor stores in Sequim and Port Townsend, both owned by the same person, will be closing.

Competition from supermarkets and other chain stores, plus the new 17% tax on all liquor, has made owning a liquor store much less lucrative, and with a lot more risks.

Well, I guess this is an improvement over the old state-run liquor stores.  "We" voted for the Costco Initiative last year; we must have known what we were doing.

Port of Port Angeles Commissioner to Speak at PABA meeting

John Calhoun, president of the Port of Port Angeles board of commissioners, will be the guest speaker at this Tuesday's meeting of the Port Angeles Business Association.