10/10/2006: "Oil Spill Response Trailers Granted To SJC"

The County Council will sign a contract with the Department of Ecology today (October 10th) to accept four fully equipped trailers designed to aid in the containment of oil spills.

$1.45 million was allocated this year by the Legislature to the Department of Ecology to provide "oil spill response equipment caching" equipment that would be made available to local jurisdictions. The idea was to pre-position (pre-stage) response equipment trailers throughout the state, and San Juan County has now been awarded four trailers -in addition to a trailer recently awarded by WA State Department of Ecology to the Port of Friday Harbor. According to Emergency Management Director Brendan Cowan, the trailers will be located at Rosario Resort and Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, and Shoal Bay and Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island.

Director Cowan said "These trailers are a welcome addition to our local spill response resources, and represent a cooperative effort between the Department of Ecology, the county, private business, and the Islands' Oil Spill Association (IOSA)," and added that the trailers will become the property of SJ County.

The fully loaded and equipped trailers will be available for use by trained staff from both IOSA and the local marinas and resorts, which are participating in the effort. The Department of Ecology will provide training on the use of the equipment. The County is expected to take possession of the trailers sometime this fall.