Spill Update

 

 

Oil Spill Response Update and Media Advisory

 

“248-P2”

For Immediate Release

Contact: Joint Information Center, 206-546-7162

January 5, 2004

1:00 p.m. Release #12

 

 

Media Advisory: Joint Information Center closing

 

This will be the last written Spill Response Update issued by the Unified Command.

Unified Command will continue to oversee cleanup operations. However, the Joint Information Center will close tonight at 5:00 p.m. Beginning tomorrow morning (January 6), media personnel seeking further updates on the cleanup and related issues may call the following individuals for information:

 

US Coast Guard, (206) 220-7237

Contact: Chief Keith Alholm or Petty Officer Kurt Fredrickson

 

Washington State Department of Ecology, (425) 649-7009

Contact: Larry Altose

 

Foss Maritime Company, (206) 281-3800

Contact: Joe Langjahr

 

 

 

Oil Spill Response Update for Jan. 5, 2004

Shoreline Cleanup Continues

 

POINT WELLS, Wash. -- Response team officials and representatives of the Suquamish Tribe met today to discuss strategies to enhance oil recovery in the Doe-Keg-Wats Marsh, a sensitive wetland, and other areas along the shoreline from Indianola to Point Jefferson impacted by last week’s oil spill. 

 

In the meantime, a 70-person cleanup crew continued to remove oil and oily debris from the rocky shoreline following what response officials called a productive weekend. Strands of pom-pom boom set in rows of up to five deep continue to work with the tide to clean rocks, coarse sand and gravel.

 

The last remaining strings of containment and deflection boom, about 2,300 feet, are being removed from the shoreline area today. Fifteen hundred (1,500) feet of this boom stretches out from the shore of the western beach area near Indianola. The other 800 feet extends from the opening of the Doe-Keg-Wats Marsh. Response officials state that the boom is no longer needed.

 

Bird/Wildlife Update

The two live birds under care, a western grebe and a horned grebe, have been washed and dried and are being moved to the Progressive Animal Welfare Center (PAWS) Wildlife Society in Lynnwood for continued care and evaluation for release. Media interested in monitoring the birds should call Larry Altose, Department of Ecology Public Affairs, at (425) 649-7009. Wildlife officials are scaling back search operations due to a lack of oiled birds.

 

 

Information numbers:

Injured Wildlife reporting line: 1-800-22BIRDS

News Media Only: 206-546-7162

 

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