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Response activities overview: Clean-up activities remain focused on the beach and lagoon at the Doe-keg-wats estuary on the north shore of Port Madison in Kitsap County. Approximately 30 people continue to use various types of absorbent boom to remove oil from the environment. These efforts will continue through the week. The unified command, which oversees clean-up operations, includes the Suquamish Tribe and Kitsap County, in addition to the Washington Department of Ecology, the United States Coast Guard and Foss Maritime Company. The command team has hired a wetlands ecologist to provide scientific guidance on the estuary clean-up. On-water clean-up operations are complete. Skimming vessels have returned to their home ports around Puget Sound for decontamination. Two grebes remain under the care of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society wildlife treatment center in Lynwood. Efforts to locate and rescue oiled wildlife continue. People who find oiled, sick or injured birds or animals should not approach or touch the animal. Please call 1-800-22BIRDS to report oiled or injured wildlife. Date of spill: Dec. 30, 2003 Location: ChevronTexaco terminal, Point Wells, near Shoreline, Washington Type of oil: Industrial fuel oil. Estimated amount of oil: 6,000 gallons spilled in total; 4,800 gallons entered the water Oil recovered: Estimated 1,200 gallons recovered from the barge deck. 4,545 gallons of oil/water mixture have been unloaded from skimmers. The amount of oil in this mixture is being evaluated. 181 cubic yards of oily solid waste have been collected. This includes absorbent booms, debris, sand and gravel. Responsible Party: Foss Maritime Company, the barge owner. (This designation means the company is taking a responsibility for the clean-up, but does not indicate legal liability.) Cause or source of the spill: The cause of the spill is under investigation. The spill happened as oil was being loaded into the barge. Vessel involved: Tank barge Foss 248-P2 Closures or restrictions: The Washington Department of Health has closed all shellfish harvesting between Miller Bay and Point Jefferson. Injuries: None reported Organizations involved: U.S. Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology, Foss Maritime Company, ChevronTexaco Corporation, National Response Corporation, Marine Spill Response Corporation, Clean Sound Cooperative, Global Diving and Salvage, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Suquamish Tribe, International Bird Rescue and Research Center, Progressive Animal Welfare Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kitsap County. |