New column will inform, educate and help connect

Any day of the week, any season of the year, it’s all too easy to find examples of environmental pollution. Look at any roadway, and you’ll most likely find it sprinkled with litter, or watch the water running off pavement on a rainy day, and you’ll probably find an oily rainbow sheen on the water’s surface. Our state’s natural environment is under pressure from expanding population, greater demand for water, and toxic substances such as long-lasting chemicals that build up in our food chain and in our bodies. At Ecology, we work with communities, businesses, individuals and other public agencies to find solutions to these, and other, environmental threats and challenges. Our commitment to the residents of Eastern Washington is strong and we’re an enthusiastic group looking forward to sharing more with the people who live here with us. In writing this column, our goal is to get you connected with information about environmental issues in your neighborhood and how Ecology is involved. We’ll tell you the when and where of public meetings, permit reviews periods, and public comment opportunities for cleanup plans. But we also want to go deeper, to get to the heart of the subject—why such things matter, and how you can make a difference. If you visit Ecology’s website, you’ll find that our focus is on preventing pollution, cleaning up pollution, and supporting sustainable communities and natural resources. In doing this work, we are at the same time working to strengthen the area’s economy and competitiveness by striving for clean water, healthy air and productive soil. The environment and economy are inextricably intertwined. We know that many people are doing a lot for the environment here. It’s no secret that Spokane-ites love the Spokane River, and the public’s effort to improve water quality and river health is truly incredible. Without those folks, outside the agency, we wouldn’t be able to get so much done!