Author: John Lovie

John Lovie is a vegan, a runner, cyclist, hiker, kayaker, and open water swimmer, an environmentalist, photographer, and musician, a writer, a chemist and a software developer. He lives on Whidbey Island. He writes mostly about water at Mostly Water | John Lovie | Substack and is available for consulting Work with John
DOH, Ecology, PFAS

Ecology releases four-year statewide funding strategy for PFAS

John Lovie

PFAS Statewide Funding Strategy: Four-Year Plan for Prevention, Reduction, and Mitigation in Washington State The legislature asked Dept of Ecology, in consultation with Dept of Health, to develop a funding strategy. The current state budget forecast shows a shortfall, so this big budget need arrives in a belt-tightening moment. It doesn’t mean it won’t get funded. The legislature will need to hear from impacted communities about whether they support these strategies, what is most important to do first, and if you think they should do something else instead. Continue reading Ecology releases four-year statewide funding strategy for PFAS

Training, WEAN

Finding your Civic Voice

John Lovie

A one-day class from Whidbey Environmental Action Network From now through December 2025, Island County is going through a comprehensive planning process that will shape the local code and policy for the next twenty years. We need your voice in the room — especially if public speaking doesn’t come naturally to you. We recognize that it is a cultivated skill and are offering community members an opportunity to build that skill at our first Finding Your Civic Voice Workshop. When: December 8 from 9 am to 4 pm (with a break for lunch) Where: Bayview Cash Store Front Room, Second … Continue reading Finding your Civic Voice

Drought, Island County, Mostly Water, Sea Level Rise

A Gray Tsunami

John Lovie

This month, I found myself on a stakeholder panel for a series of three workshops on the Climate Resiliency Sub Element of the Comprehensive Plan, required by the State Department of Commerce as part of the county’s comprehensive plan update. The first workshop was on sea level rise. For a primer on the sea level rise issues our island is facing, you can read An Imperfect Storm. Continue reading A Gray Tsunami

DOH, Ecology, EPA, PFAS

A PFAS Sandwich

John Lovie

At the end of the last update, we were left with three open issues: the Military’s response to the EPA’s new National Drinking Water Standard for PFAS; lawsuits challenging that standard; and testing of private wells with non-military sources of PFAS contamination. The last few months have brought us positive developments on two of these, and negative on the other. I’ll slide the bad news in between two slices of good. Continue reading A PFAS Sandwich

Ecology, EPA, PFAS

Spokane airport (finally) hands its shoes to state regulators

John Lovie

https://tconnor.substack.com/p/fridays-postcard-and-the-spokane Finally…Eighty-three months have passed since PFAS “forever chemicals” were detected in groundwater at Spokane International Airport (SIA). On this timeline—against the backdrop of a years-long cover-up and the airport’s ‘get-off-my-lawn’ blame-shifting —today is significant. For the first time, SIA representatives are meeting with state Department of Ecology officials to begin implementing a cleanup plan for the notorious PFAS water pollution, a task that will likely extend well beyond the nine square miles encompassed by the airport’s boundaries. Continue reading Spokane airport (finally) hands its shoes to state regulators

Drought, Ecology

Nooksack – Washington State Department of Ecology

John Lovie

In May 2024, we began the adjudication process in Whatcom County Superior Court and notified all involved water users. In the months after the case begins, all water users will need to file a claim describing their water use, so the court can inventory all legal water rights in order. Nooksack – Washington State Department of Ecology Continue reading Nooksack – Washington State Department of Ecology

News, PFAS

‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step

John Lovie

‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step | HeraldNet.com The EPA’s new rule only applies to water suppliers that serve 15 or more residents, known as “Group A” water systems. At least 1 million Washington residents have private wells or use smaller water suppliers, called “Group B” systems. The Safe Drinking Water Act doesn’t protect these wells, some of which are near Harrington Lagoon. Those wells also likely have PFAS contamination, Lovie said. “They’re not eligible for any of the loans or grants that Group A water systems can get to take care of … Continue reading ‘Not a finish line’: For water providers, new PFAS rule is first step

LA Times

Feds say he masterminded an epic California water heist. Some farmers say he’s their Robin Hood

John Lovie

Panoche official accused of epic California water heist – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) “They told me they were investigating my boss for water theft, and they wanted to know if I wanted to go to federal prison with him,” Zavala said in his testimony. Panoche official accused of epic California water heist – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) Continue reading Feds say he masterminded an epic California water heist. Some farmers say he’s their Robin Hood