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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Communities for a Healthy Bay
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250820T173000
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DTSTAMP:20260603T224925
CREATED:20250820T190540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250820T190540Z
UID:10000187-1755711000-1755718200@www.healthybay.org
SUMMARY:Critical Areas Ordinance Public Hearing
DESCRIPTION:The City of Tacoma is proposing changes to the Critical Areas Ordinance that would weaken protections for wetlands\, streams\, and wildlife habitat. These rollbacks could cause long-term harm to our water\, climate resilience\, and public health. CHB is urging the Planning Commission to reject or substantially revise the proposed updates to Tacoma’s Critical Areas Ordinance. \nWHAT’S AT RISK: \n\n\nMore wetlands could be filled in: New exemptions allow developers to destroy “small” wetlands without proper review or mitigation. \n\n\nWeaker buffers: Reduced protections around streams and wildlife corridors would fragment habitats and increase pollution. \n\n\nExpanding development: Vague “public interest” exemptions and “interrupted buffer” rules make it easier to build in sensitive areas. \n\n\nNo solid science: The City hasn’t presented a clear picture of how many square feet of wetland this change could impact\, despite tools like LiDAR being available. \n\n\nAttend the Public Hearing: \n\nIn Person at Council Chambers\n1st Floor\, Tacoma Municipal Building\n747 Market Street\, Tacoma\, WA  98402\nVirtual (Zoom)\nWebinar Link: www.zoom.us/j/84416624153\nDial-in Option: Call 253-215-8782\nMeeting ID: 844 1662 4153
URL:https://www.healthybay.org/event/critical-areas-ordinance-public-hearing/
LOCATION:Tacoma Municipal Building\, 747 Market Street\, Tacoma\, WA\, United States
CATEGORIES:Environmental Policy
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250822T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250822T170000
DTSTAMP:20260603T224925
CREATED:20250820T190907Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250820T191352Z
UID:10000190-1755820800-1755882000@www.healthybay.org
SUMMARY:Critical Areas Ordinance Public Comment Due
DESCRIPTION:The City of Tacoma is proposing changes to the Critical Areas Ordinance that would weaken protections for wetlands\, streams\, and wildlife habitat. These rollbacks could cause long-term harm to our water\, climate resilience\, and public health. CHB is urging the Planning Commission to reject or substantially revise the proposed updates to Tacoma’s Critical Areas Ordinance. \nWHAT’S AT RISK: \n\n\nMore wetlands could be filled in: New exemptions allow developers to destroy “small” wetlands without proper review or mitigation. \n\n\nWeaker buffers: Reduced protections around streams and wildlife corridors would fragment habitats and increase pollution. \n\n\nExpanding development: Vague “public interest” exemptions and “interrupted buffer” rules make it easier to build in sensitive areas. \n\n\nNo solid science: The City hasn’t presented a clear picture of how many square feet of wetland this change could impact\, despite tools like LiDAR being available. \n\n\nSend written comments by 5pm on Friday\, August 22\, 2025. Visit our letter campaign for an easy template you can personalize today! Or you can email planning@tacoma.gov or mail to Tacoma Planning Commission\, 747 Market St.\, Room 345\, Tacoma\, WA 98402. \nWe need strong protections for wetlands and wildlife corridors—not weaker ones. Please speak up to defend Tacoma’s environment. Together\, we can stop these rollbacks.
URL:https://www.healthybay.org/event/critical-areas-ordinance-public-comment/
CATEGORIES:Environmental Policy
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250827T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250827T235900
DTSTAMP:20260603T224925
CREATED:20250825T202737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250825T202737Z
UID:10000193-1756252800-1756339140@www.healthybay.org
SUMMARY:Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit Public Comment Due
DESCRIPTION:Scientists have shown for decades that too much nitrogen pollution in Puget Sound causes algae growth that lowers oxygen in the water and harms salmon\, orcas\, and shellfish. Wastewater treatment plants are the largest human-made source of this nitrogen\, especially during the summer when oxygen is already low. \nIn 2021\, the Department of Ecology created the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit (PSNGP) to set rules for all treatment plants discharging into the Sound. In February 2025\, the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) invalidated the PSNGP “insofar as it is mandatory” and remanded the permit back to Ecology for further action. \nNow the Department of Ecology is updating the permit again\, proposing to reissue the permit with changes to allow facilities to opt in and apply for permit coverage. This new draft of the PSNGP still allows high pollution levels and does not hold the biggest polluters accountable. Without stronger action\, weak rules could be locked in for another five years while population growth and climate change make the problem worse. \nREASONS FOR CONCERN \n\nToo much nitrogen is hurting Puget Sound.\nWastewater treatment plants release nitrogen into the water. When there’s too much\, it causes big algae blooms that suck up oxygen. Fish like salmon and orcas need that oxygen to survive.\nThe biggest polluters need the strongest rules.\nJust two treatment plants (Tacoma Central and King County South) put out more than 60% of all the nitrogen in Puget Sound. These plants should not have the same loose rules as smaller ones—they need tougher limits and faster upgrades.\nRules must be fair and consistent.\nSome cities are trying to “opt out” of the permit. If they do\, they must still follow the same rules\, monitoring\, and timelines as everyone else. Otherwise\, pollution just gets worse in certain places.\nAction levels are set too high.\nRight now\, the rules let plants pollute close to their worst levels from the past five years before taking action. That’s like waiting until the house is almost flooded before fixing a leak. We need lower\, realistic limits based on today’s data.\nGrowth and climate change will make things worse.\nMore people means more sewage. Warmer water and rising seas make oxygen problems even worse. The rules should plan ahead so nitrogen doesn’t keep going up as cities grow.\nNo backsliding allowed.\nTreatment plants shouldn’t be allowed to expand or take on more sewage unless they also cut their nitrogen at the same time. Otherwise\, water quality will keep sliding backwards.\n\nWAYS TO TAKE ACTION \nSend written comments by 11:59pm on Wednesday\, August 27\, 2025 via Ecology’s online system. \nOr you can send comments by U.S. mail (postmarked by Aug. 27\, 2025) to:\nWilliam Weaver\nWA Department of Ecology\nPO Box 47696\nOlympia\, WA 98504-7696 \nBy speaking up\, you can help make sure this permit truly protects Puget Sound and the ecosystem it supports. If you have any questions\, please contact us.
URL:https://www.healthybay.org/event/psngp-comment/
CATEGORIES:Environmental Policy
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