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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dec. 31, 2003
03-243
Contact: Joint Information Center, 206-546-7162
Response activities overview:
A daybreak helicopter overflight of the spill area showed little or no sheen on the open waters, with most of the oil from yesterday's spill concentrated on the shoreline from Point Jefferson to Indianola. Some light sheen remains in the Point Wells area off Edmonds. Response crews are securing existing boom to protect sensitive areas. The overflight also revealed that Whidbey Island is not affected by the spill.
Environmental specialists are walking along the affected shorelines to assess damage and determine the best ways to clean up oiled areas. The shoreline assessment is being conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Washington Department of Ecology, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Suquamish Tribe and Foss Maritime Company. Beach cleanup is under way in the Point Jefferson area.
More than 250 people are responding to the spill.
Date of spill: Dec. 30, 2003
Location: ChevronTexaco terminal, Point Wells, near Shoreline, Washington
Type of oil: Industrial fuel oil.
Amount of oil: 6,000 gallons spilled in total; 4,800 gallons entered the water
Oil recovered: 1,200 gallons recovered from the barge deck. This morning, skimmers unloaded oil recovered yesterday from open water. The amount recovered is still being measured.
Responsible Party: Foss Maritime Company, the barge owner. (This designation means the company is taking a responsibility for the clean-up, but does not indicate legal liability.)
Cause or source of the spill: The cause of the spill is under investigation. The spill happened as oil was being loaded into the barge.
Vessel involved: Tank barge Foss 248-P2
People responding: 250
Response vessels deployed: 24; 13 are skimmers, 11 are general support vessels
Boom deployed: 9,200 feet; 20,000 feet available
Status of oil: Oil has concentrated primarily in the Port Madison area, with shoreline affected from Point Jefferson to Indianola. Light sheen remain off Point Wells, near Edmonds.
Size of water area affected: 105 square miles
Closures or restrictions: FAA flight restriction over the immediate vicinity of Point Wells
Resources at risk: The central Puget Sound region contains eelgrass beds, salt marshes and spawning beaches for baitfish. Port Madison is a major herring spawning area, with spawning season due to begin in January. The area's shallow bays are home to Dungeness crabs and hard-shell clams. Birds live in the area, including herons and waterfowl. There are small seal haul-outs.
Oiled wildlife: One seal pup and three birds have been recovered so far. The seal has died. If you see oiled wildlife, leave it alone and call, toll free, 800-22-BIRDS. The International Bird Rescue and Research Center and the state of Washington each have one mobile primary wildlife rescue center in place at Point Wells. The Progressive Animal Welfare society also is under contract to provide animal care.
Weather/seas: A combination of a late-morning high tide and four-foot swells in the Port Madison area are complicating oil recovery on the water by diminishing the effectiveness of containment booms. Spill coordinators are monitoring conditions as the response continues to ensure the safety to the crews.
Injuries: None reported
Organizations involved: U.S. Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology, Foss Maritime Company, ChevronTexaco Corporation, National Response Corporation, Marine Spill Response Corporation, Clean Sound Cooperative, Global Diving and Salvage, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Suquamish Tribe, International Bird Rescue and Research Center, Progressive Animal Welfare Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Information numbers:
Injured-wildlife reporting line: 800-22BIRDS (222-4737)
News Media Only: 206-546-7162
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
