  |
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 1998
98-029
Contact: Sandy Rudnick, Department of Ecology, 360-407-6239
Chuck Boland, Department of Fish and Wildlife, 360-902-2255
OLYMPIA - Courtesy vehicle-emission tests, a chance to take a peek at the sleuthing technologies of a fish and wildlife enforcement truck, a spill-response truck, plus a ribbon-cutting celebration are some of the activities planned for the Feb. 18 open house of Vancouver’s new shared office of the state departments of Ecology and Fish & Wildlife.
The public is invited to attend the open house from 1-5 p.m. at 2108 Grand Blvd., in Vancouver.
Educational displays, slide shows, information and handouts will be provided at the open house to help inform the local community about the services provided by the state agencies.
The shared office began operations in mid-November in a move designed to improve efficiency and customer service, and to consolidate the two state agencies’ field offices in the Vancouver area. The office houses 10 Ecology employees and about 65 Fish & Wildlife employees.
Through the Vancouver office, Ecology provides an array of services to the Vancouver community and Clark and Skamania counties, including vehicle-emission checks, hazardous-waste compliance inspections, water-rights investigations, environmental clean-up management and underground storage tank inspection and oversight.
Fish & Wildlife operates five programs out of Vancouver, including wildlife, habitat, enforcement, lands and fish management.
Among Fish & Wildlife’s open-house activities will be an on-site bear culvert trap, a sturgeon research vessel, several stations with hands-on activities and workshops on fish and wildlife activities in Southwest Washington.
People who would like to receive Ecology’s courtesy vehicle-emission test should arrive between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. with a vehicle that has been driven for at least 10 freeway minutes prior to the test. The engine should be left idling during the test. While this test does not provide a valid emission check certificate for the purposes of renewing a vehicle license, it will indicate the health of the engine. Clean burning engines save money on gas and repairs, and reduce air pollution.
NOTE TO EDITORS: The mayor of Vancouver and the directors of the two agencies, Bern Shanks from Fish & Wildlife and Tom Fitzsimmons of Ecology, are tentatively scheduled to participate in the festivities. Final confirmation will be issued the day before the event.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
