Spill Response Status Report - February 06, 2004

Response Activities Overview

Efforts over the past week have focused on manual cleaning and debris removal of remaining contamination along the Indianola Church Camp waterfront. This includes rolling over logs looking for hidden pockets, scraping away contamination, removing small patches of weathered oil, and removal of small woody debris with oil stuck on it.

Tide conditions in the coming week favor resuming the cleaning of intertidal zone sediments along 1,400 feet of beach centered on the Doe-kag-wats area between Indianola and Point Jefferson. Barring high winds or rough water, crews will resume flushing sediments with low pressure pumps. (See photos from 1/23/04 on the left side of this page.) Workers stand in shallow water and direct a water stream to agitate the top four to six inches of sediment and release oil for capture by absorbent materials. Containment booms surround the general work area to prevent the release oil during this work.

Clean-up efforts are expected to continue for several more weeks.

  • Date of spill: Dec. 30, 2003

  • Location: ChevronTexaco terminal, Point Wells, near Shoreline, Washington

  • Type of oil: Industrial fuel oil.  

  • Estimated amount of oil:  Approximately 142 barrels or nearly 6,000 gallons spilled in total.

  • Oil recovery estimates:

  • Oil from barge deck: 1,075 gallons

  • Oil water from skimmers: 2,287 gal.; estimated 30% oil = 686 gal. of oil

  • Oil water from vessel and equipment decontamination: 20,261 gal.; estimated 1% oil = 686 gal. of oil

  • Oil-solid debris (includes pom-pom boom, beach debris, etc.): 320 cubic yards, unknown percentage of oil

  • Oil gravel (from beach clean-up): 12,000 pounds, unknown percentage of oil

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.

Wildlife recovery and treatment:

The two birds under care of the Progressive Animal Welfare Society Wildlife Center in Lynnwood have been returned to the wild.  A horned grebe, found oiled at the Kingston Marina Jan. 2, was released in Edmonds on Jan. 13.  A western grebe, found Jan. 1 at Edmonds Ferry Dock Park was released Jan. 21.

Wildlife professionals and trained volunteers have recovered a total of 12 birds, five alive and seven dead.  Three of the live birds died after capture. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is evaluating the cause of the deaths.   Search teams have been demobilized, but can respond to oiled wildlife reports as needed.   

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.