| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District |
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| Press Release | Date: Oct. 18, 2005 PA3 Adam Eggers Coast Guard Caitlin Cormier, Department of Ecology (360) 701-9254 Bill Cleland, Department of Health (360) 236-3306 |
COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY CONTINUE CLEAN-UP NEAR PORT GAMBLE, WASH. SEATTLE - The Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology and other state and local agencies continue to respond to a fuel spill from a sunken tug in Port Gamble, Wash. At first light this morning, helicopters from both the Coast Guard and the Ecology conducted over-flights of the affected areas to assess what additional clean-up operations needed to take place. Also this morning, a team of divers were able to plug the leaking vent of the Active, the 91-foot sunken tug that began leaking marine diesel fuel sometime late Sunday night or early Monday morning. It is estimated that between 100 to 200 gallons of marine diesel fuel leaked in the waters of the Port Gamble area and Hood Canal. The Coast Guard and Ecology are pursuing an investigation into the cause of the sinking. The Department of Health had asked local tribes to delay their geoduck harvest for a day, however, information from responders indicated that geoduck beds were not affected and the harvest can resume. If people come in contact with oiled wildlife, the wildlife experts urge that they not attempt to pickup or capture the animal. Human contact is stressful to injured wildlife and wild animals can harm people that are not specifically trained to handle them. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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