  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - August 11, 2006
06-158
OLYMPIA - The public is invited to help the Department of Ecology (Ecology) craft a customized oil-spill response strategy that is tailored to protect the Snohomish River basin.
The goal of the "site specific" plan will be to identify sensitive natural, cultural and significant economic resources in an area and prioritize how equipment and cleanup crews should be deployed to minimize environmental harm in the event of an oil spill.
These plans are also known as "geographic response plans."
Ecology uses geographic response plans in responding to oil spills in Washington marine waters and the Columbia-Snake river system.
This is the first time Ecology is developing such a plan for the Snohomish River basin.
Ecology will hold a public workshop to share and gather information about the plan from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18, at the Snohomish Fire and Rescue, 1525 Avenue D., Snohomish.
The department is seeking information from local and state authorities, Indian tribes, natural resource managers, and the public regarding natural resources in the Snohomish basin, Geographic Information System (GIS) data, contact information, waterway access points such as boat ramps and marinas, surface water supply intakes, and other pertinent information.
Anyone who cannot attend the Aug. 18 workshop can send their information to Rebecca Post, Washington Department of Ecology Spills Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA, 98504-7600. Her phone number is 360-407-7114 and e-mail repo461@ecy.wa.gov .
# # #
Contact: Curt Hart, public information manager, 360-407-6990
Workshop: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/preparedness/GRP/inlandgrpworkshop.htm
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
