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| Photo credit: NOAA |
It may be an exaggeration to say that a tidal wave of debris
from last year’s tsunami in Japan is headed our way (as well as too glib), but a
heck of a lot of Japanese junk is expected to wash up on the West Coast of the
United States over the next two years – and some bits of the flotsam and jetsam
have reached Washington state beaches already. It’s enough of a concern that
Gov. Chris Gregoire is marshaling state forces to cope with the unwanted
invasion.
The governor met June 18 with state agency officials and
Rep. Steve
Tharinger in Ocean Shores to discuss the situation and announce an initial
response plan. On June 25, the state Department of Ecology deployed three
six-person crews at spots along the state’s coast where debris has reportedly
washed up to assess the need for a cleanup.
If you find debris on the shore that could be hazardous or
contain oil, call 1-800-OILS-911.
Read about the governor’s June 18 announcement by clicking
here.
Learn more about what the Department of Ecology is doing, and find links to lots
more information, by clicking
here.
To read this story in Spanish, please click
here.
