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Department of Ecology News Release - November 18, 2009
09-270
OLYMPIA – On Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, the Marine Spill Response Corp. (MSRC) and Clean Rivers Cooperative, Inc. will showcase how the oil industry in Washington may effectively set up mobile equipment to rescue and care for wildlife in the event of oil spills. Media are invited to attend a short recognition ceremony at 10 a.m. and observe the demonstration until 11:30 a.m., to be conducted in an empty warehouse near Ferndale.
The demonstration culminates two years of work involving the two private, non-profit spill prevention and response entities, 16 refining, oil handling and vessel shipping companies operating in Washington, and the state departments of Ecology and Fish & Wildlife. The event will highlight how the oil industry may achieve Ecology’s new spill planning standard to have sufficient strategies, personnel and mobile equipment in place that can be sent anywhere in the state to rescue 100 oiled birds within 24 hours of a spill. Fish & Wildlife also will have state-owned wildlife rescue equipment set up at the demonstration.
Who:
Joe Bowles, Vice President, MSRC Pacific/Northwest Region
Tim Archer, General Manager, Clean Rivers Cooperative
Dale, Jensen, Spills Program Manager, Washington Department of Ecology
Lora Leschner, Regional Manager, North Puget Sound, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
What: Dedication ceremony and wildlife rescue equipment demonstration
Where: Copac Warehouse / Industrial Center, Ferndale
When: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, 10-11:30 a.m. (dedication ceremony starts at 10 a.m.)
Why: To highlight ability by state response contractors and oil industry to meet Ecology’s new spill planning standard to send personnel and mobile equipment anywhere in the state to rescue 100 oiled birds within 24 hours of an oil spill. Driving directions to Copac Warehouse / Industrial Center: From U.S. Interstate 5, take Grandview exit no. 266 near Ferndale. Go one-quarter mile west on Grandview Road. After crossing the railroad tracks, tracks turn right on Salashan Parkway and proceed one-half mile. The facility is on the right-hand side. Although the demonstration is in a covered facility, the building is unheated so media should dress accordingly.
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Media Contacts:
Curt Hart, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6990; cell, 360-480-7908 (curt.hart@ecy.wa.gov)
Darren Friedel, Fish & Wildlife media relations, 360-902-2256, (darren.friedel@dfw.wa.gov)
For more information:
Ecology Spills Program:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/spills.html
Ecology home page: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/
Department of Fish & Wildlife’s home page: http://wdfw.wa.gov/
Clean Rivers Cooperative, Inc.’ home page:
www.cleanriverscooperative.com
Marine Spill Response Corp.’s home page: www.msrc.org
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
