There is a law in Washington State that prohibits anyone from storing manure in ways that endanger human health and well-being. The WA State Board of Health is considering a revision of this regulation (WAC 173-203-130) that would exempt concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from this law. CAFOs are farms where hundreds of animals are confined in small areas for most of the year. As a result, CAFOs struggle to manage huge amounts of urine and feces. CAFOs store these by-products on-site and occasionally next to family homes. The current law allows neighbors to seek relief by complaining to public health officials. In rural Yakima County, for example, factory farms have built manure lagoons and stockpiled manure within throwing distance of family homes. In 2017 floodwaters sent overflow from dairy lagoons and compost areas into twelve rural residences. The WA Farm Bureau contends that the WA State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is better equipped to address these problems than health officers. However, the WSDA has no expertise in human health. Giving this responsibility to WSDA means that nothing will be done to protect neighbors from the excesses of factory farming. Please sign our petition. WA State Board of Health: Do not exempt CAFOs from health regulations. Keeping of Animals The WA State Board of Health received a petition to update WAC 246-203-130, Keeping of Animals in 2009. The rule addresses health, sanitation, and nuisance associated with animal keeping, mainly as it relates to manure handling and disposal. In July 2009, the Board directed staff to file a CR-101, Preproposal Statement of Inquiry, to explore issues and initiate rulemaking. Work on the rule stalled and the Board devoted time to issues and concerns with large animal feeding operations and related regulatory programs. In 2018, Board staff completed a background report on environmental health concerns and the regulatory structure managing animal waste. The report also outlines Board policy recommendations modernizing the rule to fill a unique role in the state regulatory structure. Work is now underway drafting rule language for stakeholder input and public review, with the goal of adopting a revised rule by late 2019. For more information on this rule or to be added to the email list for this rulemaking project, email Stuart Glasoe at [email protected] or call 360-236-4111. WA State Board of Health at https://sboh.wa.gov/Rulemaking/OurRulemakingActivity/KeepingofAnimals Drone video: Possibly manure-contaminated floodwater swamps parts of Outlook https://www.yakimaherald.com/photos_and_videos/videos/drone-video-possibly-manure-contaminated-floodwater-swamps-parts-of-outlook/html_e94f5936-ffae-11e6-9c62-0f53e3fdcd2d.html Irrigation District: No clogged drain in Outlook flooding https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/lower_valley/irrigation-district-no-clogged-drain-in-outlook-flooding/article_78824582-ff91-11e6-982e-c3baad38019e.html The State says no penalty for dairy after manure-tainted water floods homes, wells in Outlook https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/lower_valley/state-says-no-penalty-for-dairy-after-manure-tainted-water/article_257288f6-4fa1-11e7-9e3e-b3b4a206c0e6.html

Lake Associations throughout NJ have relied upon PREDFDA (Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act) to help meet the rising cost of maintenance issues for lakes and dams. Amendment A5043/S3661 will gut the law and make it impossible to maintain over 180 dams in more than 1000 lakes. Majority of these dams and lakes are maintained by private Lake Associations. Without all residents paying a fair share, these dams and lakes will fall into disrepair and eutrophication. Dam disrepair could put property and people's lives at risk , and the lakes could become an environmental nightmare. Eventually the taxpayers will be on the hook for the remediation. Governor Murphy Veto these amendments and set up a committee of experts to evaluate what neglect of these lakes will cause. PS. Thanks to your efforts with emails and phone calls A5043 was conditionally vetoed and left to expire. We now have a new nemesis even more cruel to the lake environments. This bill is A2480/S908. We must start this fight all over again with letters and phone calls if we want to save our lakes! Call your Assembly and state Senators and of course Gov. Murphy 609-292-6000.

Supermarket plastic waste

We like to shop in Nordstrom as a family and eat in their restaurant. There are several environmental issues with this company, but my children and I would like to start with the balloons handed out to customers who buy children’s shoes. These balloons are released only to injure wildlife or thrown into a landfill. Additionally, there is a helium shortage, making it more expensive for doctors and hospitals to use in MRI machines, etc. In sum, these balloons are mere excess that do more harm than good.

i worked with the company for about a year, and as much as i loved working for them, their energy harvesting practices hung in the back of my mind, possibly in other employees minds as well. they have a lot of influence, and are able to make this transition smooth as well as effective. focusing on renewable energy right now is vital to the health and wellbeing of not,only our planet, but humanity as a whole. loews hotels has a bit of influence on other corporations and companies and if they start using green energy then hopefully others will see the benefits and follow suit. lead by example!

Holding Starbucks corporation responsible for their lack of recycling their millions of cups, straws etc. worldwide.

I am 15 years old. I care about the future of our planet, as it is our future. Public lands preserve nature for the future, preserve the past, and provide social, economic, and spiritual benefits today. But our public lands are underfunded, meaning that there isn’t enough staff or money to protect them. Between 2011 and 2017 the National Park Service lost 11 percent of its staff while receiving 19 percent more visitors. With better funding, we could care properly for our National Parks, National Monuments, and National Forests. Please sign the petition to support better funding for true conservation on public lands. ↗︎↗︎↗︎↗︎

There is too much plastic usage in this world. Our oceans are being destroyed by us, and it isn't too late to act. We need to act now.

emergency situation regarding climate which affects us all and isnt limited to a particular state or region

The straw upon request movement is a simple way to get people to reduce there impact on our amazing planet. Straw upon request means when you buy beverage or go to a restaurant they will ask you before they give you a straw. Every day people use over 500 million straws. Save the truffles - straw less NJ - stop sucking

This energy-intensive, coal-burning smelter will emit hundreds to thousands of tons of greenhouse gases and other coal toxins annually. The carbon footprint will be tremendous. The Pend Oreille River Valley, the Little Spokane watershed and North Idaho will be blanketed with toxic emissions. This smelter will be located within one-to-two miles of eight Newport schools, athletic fields, parks, the Newport Hospital, and downtown Newport. HiTest/PacWest claims it will be a “green” facility, but only 5% of its product will be for solar cells. The tremendous carbon and toxic coal footprint of the smelter will never be offset. Governor Inslee: you claim to be the “climate candidate”. But your support for this proposed smelter only demonstrates a contradictory approach to climate change. Our livelihoods, health and economy will be devastated. Governor Inslee: we ask that you please withdraw your support and endorsement of the HiTest/PacWest Newport smelter.

We are residents and concerned neighbors of the COALITION TO OPPOSE THE EXPANSION OF US ECOLOGY- Detroit. There are more than 25K people within 2 miles of the US ECOLOGY NORTH hazardous waste facility. We must protect our people, our water, our air from further pollution and potential harm from a facility fire or a truck accident/spill, impacting our neighborhoods.