Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire may have announced a major program to clean up the Puget Sound just last week, but this week the tides have, er, turned.

This week, she’s planning to limit the power of an independent citizen oversight panel intending to keep an eye on the oil industry — probably the biggest threat to Sound health.

Your support powers solutions-focused climate reporting — keeping it free for everyone. All donations DOUBLED for a limited time. Give now in under 45 seconds.
Secure · Tax deductible · Takes 45 Seconds

Stories like this don’t tell themselves.

Make others like it possible. Your support powers solutions-focused climate reporting — keeping it free for everyone. Give now in under 45 seconds.
Secure · Tax deductible · Takes 45 Seconds

From the Seattle P-I:

Gregoire told the chairman of the Oil Spill Advisory Council, which is less than 1 1/2 years old, that she is proposing legislation to move the council under the Ecology Department. Environmentalists call the agency overly deferential to the oil industry.

To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How