SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL

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Scientists share concerns about whales with Senator Cantwell

Cantwell secures $1.5 million for Orca Recovery Research

posted 09/10/03
An additional $1.5 million in research funding has been awarded to study the decline in the Puget Sound Southern Resident orca population and to support ongoing recovery efforts. "I remain extremely concerned about the fact that our orca population has declined twenty percent over the last few years," Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said. "These research funds will help us understand the challenges facing their recovery."

Cantwell said, "It would be unforgivable to stand on the sidelines while our orca population dies out. These funds will help us take action in saving these majestic Northwest icons."

The funds will support ongoing research by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries and build upon $750,000 Senator Cantwell secured in fiscal year 2003 to begin this initiative. The research will determine factors that may be causing the population's decline, define goals for population recovery, identify specific measures to help restore the population, and estimate the associated time and cost.

Cantwell: $750K in federal funding for orca recovery research

posted 02/14/03
The federal government has allocated $750,000 for research to help understand the decline in the Southern Resident orca population in Puget Sound and nearby waters. Yesterday, February 13, 2003, Governor Gary Locke authorized $90,000 in state emergency funds to increase protection of Puget Sound orcas.

Locke said, "Specifically, we must determine immediately whether to list this population under our state Endangered Species Act. We must also develop an orca recovery plan. "

Senator Cantwell requested the federal funding in early February following NMFS's January 30, 2003 proposal to list the orca population as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. A depleted designation under MMPA would expand federal protection for orcas under current law. The new research funds announced today can be used to help develop a conservation plan under a final MMPA depleted designation.

"We know that orca population in the Northwest is in trouble," Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) said. "These research funds will help us understand the reasons why orca population has declined by twenty percent in the last six years."

The final version of the recently approved budget included $750,000 in additional funding for orca research to be conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), an agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These funds, which were included in NOAA's FY 2003 final budget, may be used for research into orca genetics and other areas to help understand the orca population decline.

Cantwell visits Friday Harbor

Story and photos by Sharon Kivisto

posted 11/29/02
Frustrations with the Small Business Administration (SBA), federal energy regulations, and National Marine Fisheries Service were a few of the topics islanders discussed with Senator Maria Cantwell (D. Wash) Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002. Cantwell flew in for a quick visit. She toured Luxel, walked through downtown Friday Harbor, and met with islanders who filled the commissioners hearing room.

San Juan County Commissioner Darcie Nielsen, Friday Harbor Mayor Gary Boothman, Economic Development Council volunteer Cathaleen Cavanagh, Friday Harbor Planning Commissioner Farhad Ghatan escorted Cantwell on a tour of Friday Harbor-based high tech company, Luxel Corporation. Owner Forbes Powell and General Manager and Chief Scientist Richard Capps showed the group around the Tucker Avenue firm which has a $1 million annual payroll. Capps, formerly of the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), joined the company in July 2002.

Powell said, "The Small Business Innovative Research Grants are an incredible way for small business to get funded. When I bought the company it had three people." Luxel makes submicron filters for soft X-ray and extreme ultra violet (EUV)research. NASA and many of its subcontractors are among the firm's customers.

Powell said the company is working on hydrogen fuel technology. He stressed the need for broadband access for businesses in the islands.

While Powell praised the SBA program which helped his company flourish, other island residents expressed frustration with red tape. Ray Bigler, owner of Friday Harbor Grocery, said low cost SBA loans to rebuild were not available. "One of problems we ran into was if you didn’t have 25 percent of work force in Friday Harbor out of business as a result of the fire, the only loans we were eligible for only covered lost income," he said. "We all want to rebuild. It is a long time to leave a hole in the ground."

Several board members from Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) were worried about the effect upcoming federal legislation will have on the coop. OPALCO Board Member Leon Fonnesbeck said, "The Energy Act is an attempt to dismantle Bonneville Power Administration. It would be the death of the coop. There will be a big jump in energy costs if there is an end to public power, if the coops all go down."

Cantwell responded, "Very well said. I'll take the message to the president." She said she was shocked the federal government is moving to speed up deregulation on a national basis after what happened in California. She said she will continue to fight against it. She noted there are opportunities for new power sources such as wind farms and hydrogen fuel cells.

Dennis Willows, director of University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs, spoke about research projects recently funded at the labs. Because of the environment in the San Juans, "Friday Harbor Labs is in a position to take advantage of extraordinary resources," he said. $15 million has been awarded recently for research on such topics as where has the carbon gone in regard to global warming.

One small group of researchers at the labs figured out how to model small networks of genes and won a $1 million award. The group can't afford a super computer and figured out a way to use 200 individual computers instead. The heat from the computers will heat the room.

The labs have 25 full-time employees and 1,500 researchers and students visit annually. Willows said the new technological research will increase employment by 30 to 50 percent. The labs expects to have $1 million in construction each year for the next few years.

Cantwell stressed the importance of investments in education in the information age. "In our state education system we don’t graduate as many people as we think we do. We are in the bottom tier for graduate degrees."

She noted the need to retrain displaced workers. "As of January of this year, we had 110,000 dislocated workers and only 14,000 slots at the community colleges to retrain them. Our office was successful in getting $40 million to lift that cap."

She responded to all of the issues islanders brought up during the 90-minute discussion. Concerns about legislation regarding the fishing industry will be followed up on she said. Regarding Iraq, "I do believe we need to address the situation, it has been a 10 year dispute," she said. "The best way is on an international basis. I suported the resolution for Bush to go to the United Nations."

She noted both former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush involved the U.S. in Iraq without consulting Congress. Clinton bombed Iraq and the first president Bush had ground troops on the ground in Iraq according to Cantwell.

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