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Department of Ecology News Release - November 8, 2006
06-228
OLYMPIA - Is your boat in danger of sinking? With all the rainfall that has drenched more than half the counties in the state, boats moored in the water could be at risk.
The Washington Department of Ecology, which has a mission of preventing oil and fuel spills into the state's waters, recommends that boats be covered with a tarp to keep the heavy rainfall from flooding the bilge area of the boat and causing it to sink.
A boat that sinks often means oil has leaked into the water -- an environmental mishap that can be prevented. Besides the fuel in the boat, there are other toxic products that will harm the environment, including coolant and gear oil. Batteries can also be a source of pollution.
Checking the battery that supports your boat's automatic bilge pump is crucial in keeping it afloat. If the battery is dead, the bilge will fill up and the boat could sink within a few hours.
In addition, be sure to check the cockpit drain plug holes to make sure they are clear and allowing rainwater to flow out of the boat.
"Every year we get reports of boats sinking, and we quickly deploy people and equipment to clean up the oil in the water. These spills could be avoided with simple maintenance," said Dale Jensen, spills manager for Ecology. "Covering up a boat for the winter and fixing any oil or fuel leaks before leaving it unattended for most of the winter would reduce the chance of it sinking."
A clean absorbent pad placed in the bilge-pump area will collect oil that leaks there and keep it from being pumped out of the bilge area.
"Once oil or fuel gets into your bilge area, it will be pumped out with the water and foul the marina," Jensen said. "And small spills add up."
Although small spills may seem inconsequential, cumulatively they can cause significant damage to the marine environment. Petroleum products are toxic and contain organic chemicals and heavy metals. Gasoline has more than 100 hydrocarbon compounds that harm fish larvae, shellfish and other marine organisms.
Owners of boats responsible for spilling fuel are subject to the financial cost of the clean up and may be subject to state and federal civil penalties.
If an oil spill happens, report the spill to Washington's Emergency Operations Center at 800-OILS-911 and the U.S. Coast Guard (800-424-8802).
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Media Contact: Mary-Ellen Voss, Public Information Officer, phone 360-407-7211, pager 360-956-8296
Ecology's Spills Program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/spills.html
Recent Washington state spill prevention, preparedness and response milestones:
Oct. 26 - New oil transfer and oil spill contingency plan rules go into effect.
Oct. 13 - Polar Tankers, Inc. and ConocoPhillips will pay a $540,000 fine levied by Ecology after the oil tanker Polar Texas spilled more than 1,000 gallons of crude oil into Puget Sound's Dalco Passage on Oct. 13, 2004. The $540,000 fine was the maximum possible penalty under state law and is the largest Ecology has received for a spill to marine waters. Negotiations are continuing on a state-federal-tribal damage assessment separate from the penalty that will be used to support environmental restoration projects to compensate Washington citizens for damage to the public's resources. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2006news/2006-208.html
Sept. 28 - Helping first responders: Ecology delivers the first oil-spill-response supplies to the Port of Seattle, King County, and Seattle Fire Department. The department will deliver about another 60 trailers with response equipment around Puget Sound (including the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Hood Canal) by June 2007. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2006news/2006-198.html
Sept. 25 - Department adopts new oil transfer and oil spill contingency plan rules which become effective Oct. 26. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2006news/2006-197.html
Sept. 14 - Department enters into landmark agreement with Marine Spill Response Corp. to help respond to and clean up oil spills. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2006news/2006-187.html
Aug. 18 - Ecology holds workshop in Snohomish to gather public input regarding crafting the first geographic response plan for tackling oil spills in the Snohomish River watershed. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2006news/2006-158.html
Aug. 14 - Ecology announces hiring new vessel and facility inspectors, spill responders, and oil spill contingency planners. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2006news/2006-155.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
