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Department of Ecology News Release - October 10, 2007
07-306
OLYMPIA - The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is monitoring the discovery of old fuel oil that turned up at a city landfill site two miles west of Ediz Hook.
Contractors for the City of Port Angeles were installing a sea wall and discovered the oil at about 2:30 a.m. Friday, October 5, while excavating on the beach at low tide.
The contractor had recovered about 20 gallons of oil before the incoming tide halted operations on October 5. The original material was temporarily placed back in the excavated area to control the release and allow time to plan the safest approach to dealing with the oil.
Test results show it is "very old, weathered fuel oil," said Jim Sachet, Ecology's Southwest Regional Office Spill Response Team supervisor. "The most toxic parts of it are long gone, but it's still a concern. We want to keep this oil out of the water and continue our commitment to protecting Puget Sound."
Sachet said that no oil has appeared so far in test holes dug on Monday, October 8, for Ecology on the land side of the sea wall. Ecology is actively investigating to determine where the oil is coming from, so it can be removed. This will require more excavation in the coming days. Responders are working to coordinate the response and plan ahead for any contingencies.
He also said the City of Port Angeles, the Port Angeles Fire Department, Department of Ecology and contractors are working together to manage this situation. This cooperative effort will make sure the beach and waterway are protected and all operations are proceeding safely.
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Media Contacts:
Kathy Davis, Ecology media relations,
kada461@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6149
Teresa Pierce, City of Port Angeles, Executive Communications Coordinator,
tpierce@cityofpa.us or
360-417-4630
Jim Sachet, Ecology Spills Program, 360-407-6328
For more information: Ecology Spills website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/spills.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
