Spills > Response > Canisters at Ocean Shores

Canisters at Ocean Shores

(Information on this site is considered to be accurate at the time of posting, but is subject to change as new information becomes available.)

One liter aluminum canisters with red plastic cap

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March 17, 2008, 8:00am

Ecology first learned of these unlabeled, silver metallic canisters on March 3rd. Since then, calls from the public have indicated that several hundred of these have been seen on beaches from just south of Tillamook, Oregon, to Vancouver Island, with most along the central and northern Washington Coast.

After retrieving a canister, Ecology tested the residue to confirm they once contained a poison used to kill pests in cargo holds of ships. Neither Ecology nor the Coast Guard have been able to determine the exact source of the canisters. The emptied containers likely were either washed away or thrown overboard from a cargo ship while traveling along the coast of Washington.

Ecology’s spill response staff have retrieved 32 canisters.

During the weekend of March 8-9, the Coast Guard assisted recovery efforts by scouring with trucks and ATVs all available coastline from Moclips to Long Beach, distributing flyers to citizens and park rangers from Neah Bay to Long Beach.

It is possible more canisters will continue to wash ashore. If spotted, please do not open the canister and call 360-407-6300 immediately to report the location and number of canisters.

March 5, 2008, 4:00 pm

***Important Message ***
If you find canisters call 360-407-6300. Do not open the canister - residual product in canister may pose an inhalation health hazard.

Warning Poster available for download!

 

Ecology is working with USCG to collect the canisters and properly dispose of them.