Oil Spill Response Update

"248-P2"
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joint Information Center, 206-546-7162
January 3, 2004
11:30 a.m. Release #10

Spill Status Report as of Jan. 3, 2004

Cleanup Strategies Employed at Spill Site Are Working

POINT WELLS, Wash. - Oil spill response officials said today that shoreline cleanup operations in the Indianola area are yielding effective results and that operations would continue as long as necessary to minimize environmental impacts.

Following a morning helicopter over-flight of the shoreline area (which stretches from Indianola to Point Jefferson) officials said there was significant improvement since yesterday, including further reduction in the amount of sheen on the water and visible evidence that oil was being removed from the rocky shoreline. They noted that strands of pom-pom boom, set by cleanup crews, was working effectively with tidal action to scrub rocks and the shoreline removing the oil.

At the mouth of the Doe-Keg-Wats Marsh, strands of absorbent boom continue to pick up oil sheen as tidal action moves waters in and out of the area. As the boom collects oil, it is removed and properly disposed of.  New, clean boom is then set to replace it. 

Cleanup operations at the site will continue as long as necessary, Coast Guard and Department of Ecology officials said. All cleanup operations are being conducted in coordination with the Suquamish Tribe, which owns portions of the land that was impacted by the spill that occurred on December 30.

Bird/Wildlife Update:
Two birds were recovered yesterday. Both were grebes, bringing the total number of oiled birds collected to four (4) birds. A gull, recovered early in the response, unfortunately had to be euthanized yesterday.  One seal pup has also died. Wildlife operations that are part of the response have eight (8) persons who are responsible for searching out and recovering oiled birds. Two mobile bird recovery trailers are located at the command post. These trailers are fully equipped with all of the necessary instruments to provide care to oiled birds. Professional bird care experts from Washington State Fish & Wildlife and the International Bird Rescue and Research Center man the trailers.