PEER in Washington

PEER's environmental work is solely directed by the needs of its members. As a consequence, we have the distinct honor of serving resource professionals who daily cast profiles in courage in cubicles across the country.

Find out about Washington’s whistleblower law

Following are PEER news releases, white papers, surveys and other activities for Washington:


News Releases for Washington
May 5, 2009  NAVY SEEKS TO CONTINUE ILLEGAL MARINE DETONATIONS — Shifting Much of Underwater Explosives Operations from Puget Sound to San Diego
November 20, 2008  NAVY DOWNSIZES PUGET SOUND DETONATIONS — Fewer Blasts, Smaller Charges and Long-Sought Marine Monitoring Adopted
July 29, 2008  NAVY SUED OVER PUGET SOUND DETONATIONS — Underwater Demolition Program a Threat to Marine Life
May 17, 2007  EPA SPARKS IDAHO-WASHINGTON WATER POLLUTION FIGHT — EPA Permits for Spokane River in Idaho Violate Washington Pollution Limits
March 26, 2007  NEW WALLA WALLA RIVER RULE LEAVES FISH HIGH AND DRY — Proposed Instream Flow Falls Short for Bull Trout and Steelhead Salmon
February 5, 2007  HELP ON THE WAY FOR WASHINGTON WHISTLEBLOWERS — Major Reform Legislation Has First Hearing Tomorrow
October 25, 2006  WASHINGTON WHISTLEBLOWER LAW AMONG WEAKEST IN NATION — State Ranks with Louisiana, Below Oklahoma and West Virginia in National Study
September 13, 2006  OLYMPIC PARK PLANS TO SET FIRES IN THE WILDERNESS — Burns for Cultural, Non-Safety Reasons Are Illegal and Ill-Advised, Groups Charge
August 29, 2006  OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK PLAN SHORTCHANGES WILDERNESS — Development Promoted While Rivers and Wild Lands Shortchanged
August 10, 2006  WASHINGTON CONSUMER ECO-GUIDE AXED UNDER INDUSTRY PRESSURE — Ecology Guide on Household Toxic Disposal and Alternatives Pulled from Publication
July 3, 2006  NAVY CONTINUES UP TO 300 DETONATIONS PER YEAR IN PUGET SOUND — Promised Environmental Mitigation Measures “Floundering” Due to Navy Resistance
June 9, 2006  TRIBE MEMBERS HAVE LONG HISTORY OF GAME VIOLATIONS — Seattle City Council Poised to Cede White River Game Management to Muckleshoot
April 19, 2006  CONSERVATION GROUPS CHARGE EPA WITH VIOLATING ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT — Call for fisheries biologists to evaluate pollution discharged into critical habitat
April 13, 2006  PARK OFFICIAL SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED FOR WILDERNESS VIOLATION — Olympic Superintendent Wasted $250,000 Despite Warning Plan Was Illegal
February 8, 2006  AUDIT FINDS STATE WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM NEEDS IMPROVEMENT — Retaliation Against Whistleblowers and Lack of Follow-Through Threaten Program
September 2, 2005  BURIED STUDY ON WASHINGTON LANDFILL MERCURY FINALLY SURFACES — Ecology Allowed Landfill Operators to Select Sites for Mercury Testing
August 4, 2005  U.S. DISTRICT COURT UPHOLDS WILDERNESS ACT — Olympic National Park's Shelters Are In Violation Of Act
November 17, 2004  JUDGE: FEDERAL FLOODPLAIN PROGRAM VIOLATES ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT — Conservation groups win landmark case to protect Puget Sound chinook salmon from sprawl
November 4, 2004  OLYMPIC PARK VIOLATING WILDERNESS ACT — Lawsuit to Block Pre-Fabs Being Helicoptered Into Wilderness
October 19, 2004  WHISTLEBLOWER CALLS FOR FIX TO WATER RIGHTS EVALUATIONS — State Auditor's Office Ducks the Issue
August 4, 2004  FEDERALS CONSIDER PROTECTION FOR IMPERILED CHERRY POINT HERRING — Scientists initiate status review in response to citizen petition
February 12, 2004  OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK TO AIRLIFT PREFABS TO WILDERNESS AREAS — Wilderness Act Violations Cited
January 20, 2004  GROUPS SEEK FEDERAL PROTECTION FOR CHERRY POINT HERRING — Dramatic population decline and new development prompt ESA listing proposal
September 17, 2003  FEMA HAMPERING PUGET SOUND SALMON RECOVERY EFFORTS — Federal Flood Insurance Program Violates Endangered Species Act
June 10, 2002  ENVIRONMENTALISTS SUE WDFW TO FIX HATCHERY — Washington State river blocked to salmon spawning
November 1, 2001  EVERETT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT HALTED — Federal Highway Administration Seeks New biological Review
October 19, 2001  NEW WEBSITE FOR TRACKING ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT — Resource for Activists & Reporters Monitoring Washington State Government
August 7, 2001  FOREST RESEARCH SACRIFICED TO POLITICS, SAY USFS SCIENTISTS — Survey of Pacific Northwest Lab Paints Bleak Picture
January 10, 2001  PCBS DUMPED INTO COLUMBIA RIVER FOR DECADES — Army Corps Has Known Since 1992
Other PEER Activities for Washington
PEER Campaign: Lynx Fur Flying

PEER does not have a Washington chapter, but if you would like to start one, let us know.

As a service organization, PEER relies on current or former agency employees to point out issues to work on. If you work for a resource management agency, and you struggle with:

  • political interference with science-based decisions,
  • undue influence of industry into permitting decisions,
  • a management hostile to the conservation views of staff,
  • censorship of job-related opinions, or
    • anti-government threats from your community

PEER can help!
Our job is to deliver the problem to your agency decision-makers and the public while protecting the anonymitiy of the messanger. This may be as simple as a letter from PEER to your supervisor that says, "we're watching," or as complex as a legal challenge to your administration. To see examples of common tactics we've used in other states, check out our agency surveys, white papers and news releases.

As with all of our work, every project is employee directed. That means you call the shots.

For more information, contact PEER at info@peer.org or (202) 265-7337.