Contacts: Dave Andrew, Cowlitz PUD

(360) 225-4413, or (360) 577-7502

Sandy Howard, Department of Ecology (360) 407-6239, Pager 360-786-3136

SWIFT POWER CANAL BREACH

UNIFIED COMMAND SYSTEM – MEDIA UPDATE

As previously announced, media access is available today (Thursday) at 12 noon to the area adjacent to Cowlitz County PUD’s Swift No. 2 Power Canal collapse. The site is three miles east of Cougar, Wash., on State Route 503-Spur.

Photo identification is necessary to ensure entry beyond the Washington State Patrol checkpoint at Cougar. After leaving the checkpoint, proceed one-quarter mile to Cougar Park Campground.

The guided tour of the power canal breach site will initially organize at the first parking area inside Cougar Park Campground. A car pool will depart the campground area at 12 noon. Media will have the opportunity to meet with key UC personnel during the tour and also following the tour, at approximately 1:30 at Cougar Campground.

SR 503-SPUR UPDATE

The Washington Department of Transportation expects the damaged portion of SR 503-Spur to reopen late in the day on Friday. Gravel and fill are being trucked to the site today.

The single-lane roadway will be 12-feet wide with two-foot shoulders on each side. It will be paved and allow alternating, one-way traffic to move safely through the area. Motorists will be able to see from one end of the single-lane roadway to the other and stop signs or yield signs will be placed at each end to provide traffic control. No overweight loads will be allowed on the temporary single-lane roadway.

Traveler information is available by calling DOT’s hotline at (800) 695-ROAD or accessing www.wsdot.wa.gov/ on the Internet.

YALE RESERVOIR CLEANUP UPDATE

On Monday, environmental remediation workers contained the bulk of the oil spilled into Yale Reservoir as a result of Sunday’s breach. Recovery work has continued since Monday.

More than 6,000 feet of containment boom are being used. Crews were able to contain the spill just below the PUD’s Powerhouse. It is estimated that about 20-22,000 gallons of oil was spilled into the area. This was mostly mineral oil, which is used as a coolant in the non-PCB classified transformers at the Powerhouse.

As of Wednesday morning 44 cubic yards of oily debris had been collected, bagged and recovered, just down stream from the Powerhouse. There has been no evidence of wildlife harmed as a result of the spill, but a number of dead fish have been found in the dewatered canal.

Currently there are no flows coming from the upstream Swift Dam. However, due to the Swift Reservoir refilling, it will be necessary to pass water from Swift to Yale reservoirs beginning Saturday.

Additional water flows will help the clean-up effort by allowing the oil to float, thereby making skimming easier. Favorable weather and wind conditions have also helped in the cleanup effort.

More information related to the cleanup effort is available at the Department of Ecology Web site at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/incidents/swiftcreek/swiftcreekbase.htm

RESERVOIR FISHING UPDATE

Swift Reservoir will be accessible for boating and fishing on opening day, Saturday, April 27. Highway access on SR 503-Spur is dependent on completion of the temporary road repairs at the washed-out area adjacent to the PUD’s Swift No. 2 Powerhouse. DOT expects to have the temporary road completed sometime on Friday.

Day use and boat access to Yale Reservoir are expected to remain closed until May 6, due to environmental cleanup in association with the power canal breach. At Merwin Reservoir, fishing and boating access will remain open at Speelyai Bay, except today. Washington State Fish and Wildlife will be emptying fish net pens in the area today only.