Robert McClure at the PI’s Dateline Earth blog:
In Oakland Bay near Shelton, Washington, new tests show that some of the pollution that caused officials to restrict shellfish harvesting last year comes from humans. That would be septic tanks, which are common in the area. You may remember that we reported last fall that Mason County officials were afraid they’d be overstepping legal constraints if they tried to go on private property to test whether septics are working correctly. Will the Legislature clarify that health officials have this right? Stay tuned. Taylor Shellfish Farms and the Squaxin Island Indian Tribe (“the people of the water”) are calling for action — now. About a third of the nation’s entire manila clam harvest comes from the bay, so increases in the restricted area could have serious consequences.