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Department of Ecology News Release - June 1, 2006
06-094
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has started an initial hands-on investigation of the Ocean Shores shipwreck Catala to learn how much oil the hulk contains and to find out if any has leaked into the sandy beach.
The work, delayed until now due to sensitive bird species nesting in the area, will not include oil removal. Rather, it is a first step to help Ecology determine how it will proceed and whether only oil or the entire ship should be removed from the beach.
"We're asking beach visitors to continue to help us by staying away from the Catala," said Jim Sachet of the Department of Ecology's spills program, who is leading the investigation. "Please respect the posted signs and stay off the Catala for your own personal safety."
Sachet said that he may establish an additional safety zone during the survey work to keep the public farther away from the wreck and allow contractors to move equipment around.
The Catala grounded decades ago, and recent ocean erosion has caused it to come back into view. A beachcomber first discovered oil in the old shipwreck on April 11 and reported it to Ecology.
Ecology estimates that 2,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil could remain in one tank in the rusty hull, and that at least nine other tanks in the Catala could hold oil.
The early investigation will focus on two to four of the ship's tanks and will not include the remaining tanks that are likely below water. These will be surveyed when the larger oil-removal project is conducted, Sachet said.
This week, a contractor hired by Ecology will use a small excavator to remove sand from an area on top of the hulk to expose the tops of the fuel tanks. Samples will be collected from the tanks to determine the type and amount of oil that may be remaining.
Also, borings will be made into the sand just outside the hull so samples can be collected at various locations and depths to see if oil has leaked out of the hull and into the environment.
Further samples will be taken to locate asbestos which was first detected on the ship in April. Damaged asbestos can release fibers that threaten human health if inhaled. This information will help protect workers on the Catala.
The investigation will be done carefully to lessen any disturbance to birds and the environment. For example, workers will narrow their entry and exit to a single corridor and they will stage spill-response equipment nearby in case oil is released.
Birds known to frequent the area include the snowy plover and the streaked horned lark, according to biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Many agencies are involved in the Catala effort. The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages state-owned aquatic lands, including Damon Point beaches. DNR has an agreement with the state Parks and Recreation Commission, which owns and operates Damon Point State Park. The DNR agreement includes the state Department of Fish & Wildlife to protect native species that depend on habitat at Damon Point. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is actively involved, identifying concerns about the listed species that use Damon Point habitat.
Visit Ecology's new Catala Web site for additional background at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/incidents/catala/cata.htm
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Contact: Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-791-9830 (cell)
Damon Point State Park Web site: http://www.parks.wa.gov/parkpage.asp?selectedpark=Damon%20Point
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
