| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District |
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| Press Release | Date: Nov 7, 2005 |
UPDATE 1- UNIFIED COMMAND CONTINUES MERCURY CLEANUP OPERATIONS IN FLORENCE, ORE. A Unified Command has been set up at Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River in Florence, Ore., to coordinate the mercury cleanup. The unified command is being led by the Coast Guard, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Siuslaw Valley Fire Department. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental Protection Agency are providing technical assistance for the unified command. Cleanup efforts will continue Tuesday morning during low tide where the mercury was found. The contaminated area has been identified and is cordoned off. The area is approximately 12-feet in diameter. A one-mile stretch of beach from the north jetty to Driftwood Shores has been closed until cleanup operations are complete. Approximately eight pounds of contaminated sand was removed today from the beach by environmental cleanup crews. The source of the mercury and amount within the contaminated zone are unknown at this time. Members of the public having any information regarding the source are encouraged to call the Lane County Sheriff’s office at (541) 682-4141. A press brief has been scheduled for 12 p.m., on Tuesday and will be held in the parking lot of the north jetty in Florence. Media should direct further questions to the Coast Guard Sector Portland’s Public Affairs Officer at (503) 849-2482. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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