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Spill Update
Dalco Passage Spill
Unified Command
United States Coast Guard
Washington Department of Ecology
And cooperating local, tribal, state and federal agencies
UPDATE # 12
Oct. 29, 2004, 11:30 a.m.
Cleanup ends; public beaches re-opened;
response shifts to long-term monitoring;
boat owners should check for water-line ring
SEATTLE - Cleanup from the Dalco Passage oil spill has ended, and beaches at King County parks on southern Vashon and Maury islands are open to the public again. The response to the spill will continue with long-term monitoring of beaches and tidal areas.
The response is directed by a unified command, representing the U.S. Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), with additional local, tribal, state and federal agencies cooperating in the response.
The spill from an unknown source -- reported Oct. 14 in Dalco Passage between Tacoma and Vashon Island -- spread patches of oily sheen as far south as the Tacoma Narrows and as far north as Eagle Harbor. The sheen touched 15 miles of shore along Colvos Passage, the Narrows and Quartermaster Harbor and left a filmy coating along six miles of southern Vashon and Maury islands.
The unified command directed an effort that, at its peak, involved 286 people, ten skimmers, 24,000 feet of boom, three helicopters and additional boats and equipment. Crews recovered an estimated 59 tons of oily debris from shoreline cleanup and 6,842 gallons of oily water from skimming operations. The cleanup has so far reached nearly $2 million in estimated costs, paid out of federal and state oil-spill contingency funds.
A joint Coast Guard and Ecology investigation to determine the source of the spill continues.
Shoreline survey teams from Ecology, the Coast Guard, King County Parks, the state Department of Natural Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found the beach cleanup areas free of oil during inspections this week. The unified command called an end to the cleanup, and response crews finished taking equipment and bags of debris away from the beaches and staging points yesterday.
Public Health-Seattle & King County yesterday authorized the removal of beach-closure signs posted early in the response at parks and other public access points.
Ecology is coordinating with King County Parks to assemble and train island volunteers to help with long-term monitoring of the beaches. Crews will inspect beaches for signs of residual oil and collect sediment samples for testing.
“It’s great to have clean shores again, but there’s more to do,” said Dale Jensen, who manages Ecology’s spills program. “Sampling and inspecting beaches after cleanup is important, and we deeply appreciate the chance to work together with island residents to do this.”
Ecology also is following up with local organizations interested in creating an island-based citizen corps. This group would become part of the network of public and private organizations that work with Ecology and the Coast Guard to prepare for and respond to oil spills.
“The mysterious origin of this spill provided unique challenges to the response community,” said Commander Mark Dix, the Coast Guard's incident commander. “However, the cohesive and unified efforts of the Coast Guard, state, other agencies and contractors proved that our joint training and readiness is capable of cleaning up an orphan spill. I'm very pleased that the environmental and wildlife impacts were greatly minimized.”
Local agencies played crucial roles in responding to the oil spill.
The Pierce County Department of Emergency Management and the Tacoma Fire Department arranged for and provided space for a command post at the fire department’s training center in Tacoma.
The heaviest oiling affected King County shorelines. Public Health - Seattle & King County activated its emergency operations center to coordinate local response efforts by the King County Parks Division and Vashon Fire District, which included monitoring beaches on Vashon-Maury Island and South King County's mainland beaches. Parks, Public Health and other local partners posted beach closure signs. Parks also co-sponsored a public workshop on Vashon Island with Ecology and the Coast Guard and recruited more than 30 volunteers to join King County's Beach Steward Program.
"The Dalco Passage oil spill underscores why it's so important to devote resources to protecting and cleaning up Puget Sound, and why we need a coordinated regional response to environmental emergencies," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "One thing that came out of this was the outpouring of concern from affected citizens on Vashon and Maury islands wanting to know what they can do to help. I've directed King County Parks not only to work with Ecology and other organizations on long-term volunteer beach monitoring, but also to explore training opportunities that may allow more citizen participation in the early response."
The state Department of Health’s (DOH) precautionary closure of affected beach areas remains in effect for harvesting clams, oysters and other intertidal species, including seaweed. DOH will use sediment sample data from the ongoing beach monitoring to determine when harvesting can resume. The department is updating recreational harvest advisories as needed. The advisories can be viewed on the Department of Health Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/Pubs/dalco-oil-spill.htm) (link removed 11/16/05). Clams and oysters found in restaurants and markets have been harvested from areas unaffected by the oil spill and are safe to eat.
The Coast Guard will provide free inspection and, if needed, cleaning of oily waterlines of boats moored in spill-area waters. Boaters should check their vessel hulls for oiling and arrange an inspection before setting out on any voyage. Until November 30, for more information, please contact the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office directly at 206-217-6232. After November 30, contact the National Pollution Funds Center at 1-800-280-7118 to file a claim.
There is a small possibility that residual oil could still be present. If citizens see oil on the beach or water -- or to report any oil spill -- they should call 800-OILS911, and they should not touch or attempt to clean the oil. Public Health reminds residents to avoid spilled oil.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) prepared for extensive harm to birds and animals as a result of the oil spill. Wildlife survey teams made thorough searches but found few signs of harm.
One oiled bird -- a western grebe sighted and reported by a citizen -- was recovered from the Des Moines marina on Oct. 15. The bird was transferred to the Progressive Animal Welfare Society’s wildlife center in Lynnwood for treatment and was released to the wild Oct. 25.
A seal pup that had oil on part of its fur was taken for treatment, but died Oct. 16 at the PAWS treatment center. It is being evaluated by NOAA Fisheries and results are not yet available.
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Dalco Passage oil spill Web site:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/incidents/dalco/dalcobase.htm
Information numbers
Injured wildlife reporting line: 800-22BIRDS (222-4737)
Damage Claims: 800-280-7118
To volunteer for shoreline monitoring or to help develop island-based oil-spill response, contact Shelley Brittingham, volunteer coordinator for King County Parks, at 206-296-2984.
To provide tips to investigators or to have your boat hull checked for oiling, please call the Coast Guard’s Puget Sound Marine Safety Office at 206-217-6232.
To report an oil or hazardous material spill anywhere, anytime in Washington: 800-OILS911, or nation-wide: 800-424-8802
News Media Only:
Environment, wildlife: Larry Altose, Dept. of Ecology, 425-649-7009
Shellfish: Bill Cleland, public health advisor, state Dept. of Health, 360-236-3306
Investigation: Coast Guard public affairs: 206-220-7237