COWLITZ COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT

April 26, 2002

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

MEDIA UPDATE

With the planned reopening of State Route 503-Spur Friday and the beginning of fishing season on Saturday, security is heightened in the vicinity of the breach of Cowlitz County PUD's Swift Power Canal.

Local and state law enforcement has assigned additional staff to the area through the weekend. Posted no parking and no trespassing zones along the power canal will be strictly enforced and violators cited.

"With the highway reopening and fishing season beginning, a lot of traffic will pass by the damaged area this weekend," PUD spokesperson Dave Andrew said. "The damaged area is not safe, however, so maximum security in the area is very important to the PUD."

The state Department of Transportation expects the damaged portion of SR 503-Spur to reopen late in the day on Friday. Workers will be graveling and paving Friday morning.

The single-lane roadway will be 12 feet wide with two-foot shoulders on each side. It will 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. A pilot car will lead drivers through the area.

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 Thursday environmental remediation workers made significant progress on cleanup of oil spilled into Yale Reservoir as a result of Sunday's breach. Foss Environmental has a crew of 40 employees assigned to the cleanup.

About 6,500 feet of containment boom are being used. It is estimated that a potential of about 21,000 gallons of oil was spilled into the area. This was mostly mineral oil, which is used as a coolant in the transformers at the Powerhouse.

Tests taken in the spill area have confirmed that the oil is non-PCB. Nearly 775 gallons of oil was pumped directly from the two damaged transformers.

As of Thursday 120 cubic yards of oily debris had been collected and bagged. The bagged debris will be hauled to an approved facility and recycled or disposed.

Fish and Wildlife personnel have an ongoing fish rescue effort in the drained Power Canal. Rescued Bull Trout and Kokanee have been relocated to Swift reservoir. There has been no report of fish or wildlife harmed as a result of contact with the spilled oil.

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

LEWIS RIVER RESERVOIR FISHING INFORMATION

Swift Reservoir will open for fishing on Saturday, April 27. Reservoir levels are currently near full pool. Washington Department of Transportation is scheduled to re-open SR 503 Spur allowing highway access from the west sometime on Friday, April 26.

Yale Reservoir will remain closed for day-use activities and boating access until at least May 6 because of environmental clean-up activities.

Lake Merwin is open for fishing, but boat access is closed because reservoir levels are too low. This is because flows from Swift and Yale reservoirs are severely restricted to help crews with oil spill clean up. Merwin Reservoir is temporarily being used to sustain Lewis River flows until more normal flows can be resumed through Swift and Yale reservoirs.

Washington State Fish and Wildlife has closed the Swift Power Canal to fishing and Cowlitz PUD has posted no trespassing signs around the entire canal. This will be strictly enforced.