Washington State Department of Ecology
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ecology.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Ecology
@ecology.wa.gov
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Official Washington state Department of Ecology account. Protecting, preserving and enhancing Washington's environment for current and future generations. ecology.wa.gov
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ecology.wa.gov
We are responding to an ammonia leak at Roche Fruit in Yakima. Yakima fire and police departments are also on scene. Nearby buildings have been evacuated and roads are blocked off. Please avoid the area this evening as hazmat teams respond.
A light gray map of downtown Yakima, with a red pin marking the location of Roche Fruit.
November 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
ecology.wa.gov
We helped remove 2,000 pounds of lead & toxic waste to improve salmon habitat in Lower Peshastin Creek. This is an important spawning site and one of the only cold water refuges in the Lower Wenatchee Basin. Learn how else we're giving them the best chance at survival: ecology.wa.gov/blog/novembe...
On a sunny day, a yellow excavator stands ready along the rocky edge of a creek. Workers in orange vests stand by large rocks and green trees. People install plants in a large patch of dirt against a blue sky near the tree-lined creek. A person holds a large blue ribbon stretched across the creek and another person stands in the middle of the creek to cut the ribbon.
November 24, 2025 at 10:45 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Washington just adopted new rules to reduce PFAS – “forever chemicals” – in everyday products.

The rule limits PFAS in apparel, cleaning products, and car washes, and requires reporting for more categories so consumers get clearer information.

Learn more at: ecology.wa.gov/spwa-pfas
A person walking in the rain wearing a green rain jacket and backpack. A person washing a car with a bucket of cleaning solution and sponge.
November 20, 2025 at 10:03 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Harmful algal blooms happen all over WA and can produce toxins that can harm people, pets, and wildlife.

We’re starting two new rulemaking efforts to help address these toxins and the pollution that leads to harmful algal blooms.

Learn more in our blog: ecology.wa.gov/blog/novembe...
An Ecology employee wearing gloves bending over in a lake to take a sample of green algae A bright orange kayak rests at a loading dock of a lake that is covered in algae
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Do your cat a favor and upgrade to a comfy and cozy reusable bag 😸 In 2026, bag fees in WA stores and restaurants are going up 4 cents. What’s the easiest way to avoid that charge? Bring your own reusable bags!

Learn more about the bag fee increase here: ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who...
Text that says "Bringing your own bag". A photo of a cat sitting in a plastic bag with text that reads "How it started" and a cat wearing sunglasses in a reusable bag that says "How it's going".
November 18, 2025 at 10:37 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Fortunately U.S. Coast Guard was able to tow the Mollusk to Appletree Cove, where it’s now safely anchored and being defueled. We estimate it had over 1,500 gallons of fuel on board.
A tugboat floating near rocky breakwater.
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Last Thursday we responded to a sinking tugboat off the Kitsap Peninsula. No, not the Dominion tugboat which sunk earlier last month – this was another vessel, the Mollusk. The 64-ft tugboat lost engine power, broke free of its anchor & started breaking apart against the Kingston Marina breakwater.
A blue and white tugboat floating off the shoreline.
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Beach closure alert! ⚠️ A no-contact advisory was issued by the Kitsap Public Health District for the northern portion of Dyes Inlet in Kitsap County due to a sewage spill. Please avoid contact with the water in this area until Nov. 10. Visit ecology.wa.gov/beach to stay up to date on beach closures.
A red sign on a beach that says "Closed: High bacteria levels in this water may cause illness." A map of Dyes Inlet with the northern area covered in red with a red bullseye marking the site of the sewage spill near Silverdale Way.
November 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Clean air ain't small potatoes! Just ask Lamb Weston, a facility in Quincy who involved us early in the process of replacing their outdated potato boilers. The outcome? Lower permitting costs for the company – and cleaner air for the people of Quincy. Read more: ecology.wa.gov/blog/october...
An aerial image of the Lamb Weston industrial facility, with letters made of french fries and potatoes spelling out “Clean air ain’t small potatoes!”
November 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
ecology.wa.gov
If you’re still looking for a Halloween costume, this is your sign. 🌠 While the city of Gotham has a batMAN, our moody Olympic coast has the bat STAR. With spooky season in full swing, we thought it was time to shine a spotlight on this coastal critter. Read the blog: ecology.wa.gov/blog/october...
A bat star signal shining in a cloudy night sky, with text: Shining a spooky spotlight on the BAT STAR A large red sea star and a smaller sea star with a mottled dark and light pattern sit side-by-side on a bed of macroalgae. A black sea star sits on a bed of algae and mussels that has been exposed at low tide. Close-up of a dark brown striped worm crawling between light-colored spines of a larger animal. The heads of several other worms are visible on the edges of the photo.
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
ecology.wa.gov
We know the recent storm left a lot of branches, leaves and other yard waste all over... but burning wet wood = smoke, soot, and sad fires. Don't burn it – let it dry out first! Check out other options for getting rid of yard waste: ecology.wa.gov/air-climate/...
A fallen tree and branches in a rainy, wet yard with text that reads "Do you have wet branches, leaves, and debris in your yard? Don't burn it!"
October 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
ecology.wa.gov
New air monitors are live! Our monitoring team recently installed air monitors in Mabton and Granger. This work was made possible by funding from the Climate Commitment Act. Check out real-time, localized data from these new monitors on the WA Air Quality Map: airqualitymap.ecology.wa.gov
Air monitor on a rooftop overlooking a sports field and mountains, with text that reads “New air monitors in the Yakima Valley!”
October 23, 2025 at 8:12 PM
ecology.wa.gov
A formerly threatened wetland in Nisqually State Park is getting a much-needed facelift now that the old Eatonville landfill is getting cleaned up. More than 1,430 truckloads of contaminated soil and waste have been removed from the old landfill site since earlier this year.
A worker in an orange vest and white hard hat stands at the base of a steep garbage slope while a large piece of machinery called an excavator with a long scoop shovel arm rests above him.
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of clean, affordable transportation policy in Washington! Our first ZEVergreen public meeting is on October 27 at 9:00 a.m., and seats are filling up fast. Register online now: waecy-wa-gov.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
A graphic of a car at a charger with text that reads "We need YOU to power up ZEVergreen!"
October 21, 2025 at 10:09 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Washington's wildfire smoke season started slow, but ramped up when lightning strikes sparked more fires in August. Late-season fires put unhealthy air quality totals above 2024 & 2023 – the 6th highest since 2012. Read our smoke season wrap-up from the WA Smoke Blog: ecology.wa.gov/blog/october...
Dense smoke from the Labor Mountain Fire fills the air above forested mountains.
October 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
ecology.wa.gov
We're responding to a mineral oil spill on the Spokane River between Argonne and Felts Field. Preliminary information suggests 35 gallons of non-PCB mineral oil entered the river following a failure of an oil/water heat exchanger at Inland Empire Paper.
Oil sheen and debris on the surface of the water, with absorbent boom surrounding it.
October 10, 2025 at 11:37 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Here’s some good news: Washington law limits or bans harmful chemicals – like cadmium, lead, phthalates, and flame retardants – in products kids wear and use every day. Get more tips for reducing your exposure to toxics: ecology.wa.gov/toxicfreetips
#CEHday #ProtectKidsHealth
Grade school-aged child washes hands at a sink. Text overlay says, teach kids to wash their hands, especially before eating. Several pairs of shoes on the floor at a door. Text overlay says, leave shoes at the door. Don’t bring outside chemicals inside.
October 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Healthy living starts at home 🏠 Children's environmental health is about making sure that the places where kids live, play, and learn are safe and healthy.
Infant places mouth on toy. Text overlay says, make your home safer for children, and everyone else. Dusty shelf with two vases. Text overlay says, dust isn’t just dirt. It can carry toxic chemicals. Happy infant crawls on wood floor. Text overlay says, kids spend more time on the floor. Keep high-traffic areas clean.
October 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
ecology.wa.gov
This collaborative process shows how a government-to-government relationship is key to an effective response and cleanup. We’re grateful to all the responders, workers, and representatives who acted quickly on this incident.
People from Ecology, Unified Command, and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe stand near Indian Creek and wear orange emergency vests. Workers in orange vests and hard hats stand in Indian Creek with tools to clean up the oil.
October 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Happy October & Flood Awareness Month! Join us with @emd.wa.gov @oicwa.bsky.social & @wadnr.bsky.social this month to learn what flood tricks to look out for and some treats to help you be prepared. Check out our blog about flooding in WA & how to get flood risk maps: ecology.wa.gov/blog/october...
A flooded road with “road closed” sign at point where water is crossing the street.
October 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
ecology.wa.gov
The vessel continues to leak fuel. To date, we’ve recovered 92 tons of oil-soaked sorbents and 14,000 gallons of oily water. Call 800-22BIRDS to report oiled wildlife.

These barrels contain sorbents with recovered oil.
Several dozen black barrels sit at the side of a marina, with a hand truck parked in front of them.
October 2, 2025 at 12:55 AM
ecology.wa.gov
10/1 update: you may see some new activity around the Dominion on Thu and Fri. We’re bringing in a crane to lift the tug up to its waterline for dewatering and assessment. The plan is to repair and stabilize the vessel for towing to a shipyard.
Drone photo of a sunken tugboat beneath the water of a marina. Multiple layers of boom float on the surface above the vessel. Other boats are moored in the background. Foreground is a dock.
October 2, 2025 at 12:55 AM
ecology.wa.gov
9/30 UPDATE: Vessel is secured away from marine traffic areas. Sources of pollution have been removed. No additional sheening observed since Sunday's initial release, which occurred when the vessel refloated with incoming tide. Local authorities are evaluating options for removal.
Partially submerged vessel secured near shoreline. Photo courtesy of City of Port Townsend.
October 1, 2025 at 2:52 AM
ecology.wa.gov
We're responding to a 30-foot sunken vessel near the Port Townsend ferry terminal. A person who was on the vessel is receiving medical attention for an injury. We're working with the port and fire dept. to anchor the vessel and place absorbent materials around the vessel and along the shoreline.
Map with vessel location just off the shoreline southwest of the Port Townsend ferry terminal where East Sims Way meets Water Street. Partially sunken vessel with absorbent boom placed around it. View of sunken vessel from Port Townsend shoreline. Response partners placing sorbent boom around partially submerged vessel.
September 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
ecology.wa.gov
Applications for the NextCycle Washington Circular Project Accelerator are open through Oct. 31! Selected teams will receive six months of business and technical support for projects focused on reuse, repair, recycling, composting, and the use of recycled content.
A group of NextCycle participants stand smiling excitedly in front of a screen showing text that reads “NextCycle Pitch Showcase”
September 23, 2025 at 8:11 PM