The game's up. Natural gas development on the East Coast is causing environmental destruction of countrysides, farmland, and communities. And that's without even getting into fracking.

Developers to Legislature: Save us from runoff rules

Posted Wed, Feb 1, 2 a.m.

By Robert McClure/InvestigateWest

Environmentalists are appalled at a possible end run of long-awaited Department of Ecology rules. But cities and developers say it's too much, too soon.

Will the last farmer to leave Puget Sound please wish us luck?

Posted Wed, Feb 1, 2 a.m.

By Berit Anderson

Better yet, says a new report, we should develop conservation tactics that do a better job of protecting farmland from development.

Updated: A little oil and a ton of trouble

Posted Sun, Jan 29, 2 a.m.

By Pete Knutson

A fisherman with a leaky hydraulic line discovers what a serious business an oil sheen on Puget Sound can be — especially if you're one of the unlucky few to get tagged for it, and you get on the wrong side of the pollution detectives. New: The Department of Ecology has now reached a decision.

Green Acre Radio: Oceans of plastic trash

Posted Sat, Jan 28, 3 p.m.

By Martha Baskin

What can we do? It starts with the first part of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Port opens door for China to get U.S. coal

Posted Fri, Jan 27, 2 a.m.

By Floyd McKay

As Northwest concerns build about global and local environmental issues in the Northwest, a small Oregon port gives its approval to exporting coal to burn in Chinese power plants.

Cirque du Soleil founder pushes boundaries with interspecies acrobatics

Posted Thu, Jan 26, 2 a.m.

By Katherine Luck

'Cavalia' premieres in Redmond, where the trust placed in its equine stars dazzles almost more than the acrobats on their backs.

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President Obama's poster fish for reform: the salmon

Posted Wed, Jan 25, 2 a.m.

By Daniel Jack Chasan

The president wants to reorganize the government's handling of fish in a way that, on the surface, would give science a larger voice. But would the Obama administration really let facts have priority over politics?

'Snow wimps'? Who is the 'LA Times' calling a wimp?

Posted Fri, Jan 20, 12:30 a.m.

By Art Thiel

A newspaper that serves a population freaked out by rain shouldn't be surprised if Seattle's steep hills and unusual climatic conditions -- including wet, icing-prone snowfalls -- combine to make for genuine difficulties.

Groundwater mismanagement lets giant feedlots drink their fill

Posted Thu, Jan 19, noon

By Cally Carswell

A loophole in Washington's groundwater laws means large-scale cattle operations like Eastern Washington's Easterday Ranches can deplete as much groundwater as they want -- no permit necessary.

Provisions for the soul on a winter's day

Posted Wed, Jan 18, 2 a.m.

By Anthony B. Robinson

After the initial joy of real winter, there is a snowy lull. Your cheeks are chapped, your yard dotted with angels and snowmen, and all you want is to curl up by the window with a warm cup and a few good thoughts. With that, we bring you five winter quotes and film reccommendations for Washington's first big snow of the year.

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Save the phonebook!

Posted Mon, Jan 16, 2 a.m.

By Eric Scigliano

Greenies, e-hipsters, phone companies, and especially the online directory services would love to kill the old-fashioned White Pages. Here's why we might want to think again.

Green Acre Radio: Environmentalists look warily at Legislature

Posted Sun, Jan 15, 10:15 a.m.

By Martha Baskin

The green community is facing its most-challenging legislative session, where it will be on alert against attempts to roll back environmental protections and initiatives. But there are also hopes for progress on several fronts.

The environmental 'plot' against Canada over oil sands?

Posted Fri, Jan 13, 2 a.m.

By Peter Ladner

Radical U.S. environmentalists are out to get Canada! And seize the energy, oil, and wood businesses for the U.S.! Or, so a hypocritical government says.

Okanogan County takes aim at environmentalist over wolf protection

Posted Wed, Jan 11, 2 a.m.

By Daniel Jack Chasan

The state has its own plan for protecting wolves, even as the feds withdraw. Some are furious that an Eastern Washingtonian with environmental credentials has joined the wildlife commission, which recently adopted the plan.

Why this winter's snowy owl visit captivates us

Posted Tue, Jan 10, 6:33 a.m.

By Martha Baskin

Author Paul Bannick talks about the birds that have made an unusual winter appearance -- an irruption -- into the Northwest, their significance as an indicator species, and the power that owls have in the human mind.

Green Acre Radio: The snowy owl mystery

Posted Tue, Jan 10, 2 a.m.

By Martha Baskin

On Port Susan Bay, there are thousands of regular visitors among the bird populations. But, in a rare event, there are also snowy owls.

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Heritage Turkeys of the year

Posted Mon, Jan 9, 2 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Who did most to raze, wreck, uproot, neglect, and generally trash our historic treasures in 2011? The envelopes, please...

Tolls: a long road still ahead to get best results

Posted Mon, Jan 9, 2 a.m.

By Douglas B. MacDonald

There are some encouraging signs, but tolls can't work as well as possible without more flexibility and wider adoption. And cross-lake efficiencies also require much more flexibility in transit than reliance on light rail.

Environment Blog posts

Midday Scan: Birth control time travel; Rep. Dicks caught redhanded; caffeine powder hits the shelves

Posted Wed, Feb 8, 12:36 p.m.

by Zachariah Bryan

The birth control debate moves back in time. How Norm Dicks funneled federal money to his son. Caffeine powder gives us a glimpse of the future.

Snow reveals obsolescence

Posted Sat, Jan 21, 9:30 a.m.

by Feliks Banel

In the snow, it's harder to deliver the printed paper or the mail, or to return a DVD. Online, not so much.

Update: Seattle Public Schools cancel Wednesday classes

Posted Tue, Jan 17, 5:08 p.m.

by Joe Copeland

The all-day cancelation follows a day in which classes started early -- and were dismissed early.

Big news on climate, except in the papers

Posted Mon, Dec 12, 2 a.m. 2011

by Eric Scigliano

Soaring emissions, especially in China; hopeful news from the Great Ice Age; dire forecasts from the IEA; extra-innings diplomacy at Durban. So whre's the coverage in our two "Times"?

Newt and the newts: Meet the amphibian behind the man

Posted Sun, Dec 11, 12:30 p.m. 2011

by Eric Scigliano

Amazing resilience may not be the only thing Gingrich and the eponymous amphibians have in common. Just ask Bob Dole and Phil Gramm.

Lummi Nation raises its profile on coal port plan

Posted Thu, Dec 8, 2 a.m. 2011

by Floyd McKay

The proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal near Bellingham could brings jobs, but it could also endanger livelihoods and natural resources.

Judge in key salmon rulings is retiring

Posted Fri, Nov 25, 2 a.m. 2011

by Floyd McKay

Judge James Redden has relentlessly demanded more from government attorneys trying to limit what must be done to protect salmon on the Columbia River.