OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by a federal appeals court that state officials said will require it to pay billions of dollars on salmon habitat.
Ferguson filed the petition Thursday asking for review of last year’s decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
That court affirmed a lower court’s 2013 ruling ordering the state to fix or replace hundreds of culverts — large pipes that allow streams to pass beneath roads but block migrating salmon.
In May, the appeals court refused to reconsider the case. Ferguson argues the ruling’s impact goes beyond culverts.
The tribes, backed by the U.S. Justice Department, sued Washington in 2001 to force it to replace the culverts with structures that better allow fish to pass.
Renewable energy talk
PORT TOWNSEND — A panel of experts from the University of Washington Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center will discuss the potential use of tidal energy during a seminar from 6 to 8 tonight.
The panel will present environmental, social and engineering challenges and opportunities, as well as ongoing research to understand and proactively address these issues, at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.
The seminar — which is free and open to the public — presents residents the opportunity to gain insight about the potential energy source and ask questions.
Event organizers urge those with questions to submit them in advance by visiting wsg.washington.edu.
The seminar will provide an overview of the ways energy can be harvested from wind, waves and currents; examine types of MRE technologies that are suited for Washington’s outer coast and inland waters; discuss the potential environmental impacts of MRE development and how to minimize them; and assess the economic benefits of MRE for residents.
For more information, contact Meg Chadsey at mchadsey@uw.edu or 206-616-1538.
Landing practice
COUPEVILLE — There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island at the outlying field Tuesday morning through the early afternoon.
Comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to the station’s comment line at 360-257-6665 or via email at comments.NASWI@navy.mil.
All other questions can be directed to the public affairs office at 360-257-2286.
