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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 5 p.m., Feb. 4, 1999
99-024
Contact: Sandy Howard, Ecology, (360) 407-6239; pager (360) 786-3136
OLYMPIA - Washington State Department of Ecology oil spill responders are ready with contingency plans for Washington in case a beached wood chip cargo ship with 360,000 gallons of diesel fuel breaks up on the beach north of Coos Bay, Ore.
To be ready for this potential environmental catastrophe, Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons early today volunteered Washington’s assistance to Oregon while his own agency’s staff began preparations in case of a spill.
"A combination of northward-pushing weather and currents plus extreme tides gives Washington true cause for concern. The weather forecast is for more of the same," said Eric Heinitz, Ecology spill response manager.
The New Carissa went aground on a sandy bottom at approximately 9 a.m. today north of the north jetty entrance to Coos Bay. At the time of grounding, there were 35- to 50-knot winds and 20-foot waves breaking over the vessel and the offshore bar. At last report, the ship was upright, intact and not leaking.
Its heavy bunker fuel is a risk to the environment and to wildlife, shellfish and people. It is much like the fuel that washed up on Long Beach last month in the form of tar balls.
The readiness exercise occurs for Ecology as its spill responders are in the height of methamphetamine drug lab cleanups. "When we learned about this potential spill, we were out on two labs cleanups in our Southwest region alone, with two more waiting," Heinitz said.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
