State Ecology Officials Prepare for Potential Oil Spills in Southwest Washington, Ask for Input

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As more and more oil moves by rail through the Pacific Northwest, state officials are trying to prepare for the possibility of a spill in Clark, Cowlitz and southwestern Lewis counties, and they want public input on their plans. 

Planners at the Washington Department of Ecology recently finished a draft contingency plan outlining how responders would protect the public and the environment if an oil spill happened along the Interstate 5 corridor in the area. 

The goal of the plan is to reduce the chance of injury to natural, economic and cultural resources in the event of a spill.

The Clark-Cowlitz geographic response plan spans three counties. 

Several cities, including Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Ridgefield, Vancouver, Winlock and Woodland, fall within its boundaries. Also included are 13 miles of the Coweeman River, 51 miles of the Cowlitz River, 12 miles of the Kalama River, 17 miles of the Lewis River and more than 8 miles of the Toutle River.

“Oil trains, the Olympic Pipeline, and Interstate 5 generally run north/south through much of the area, crossing many rivers, creeks and streams,” said Kathy Taylor, acting program manager for Ecology’s Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response in a press release. “This presents a substantial oil spill risk that we must be ready for."

The Clark-Cowlitz plan is one of eight geographic response plans Ecology plans to finish before June 30. The funding for the plans comes from money dedicated by the state legislature. 

Comments can be emailed to grps@ecy.wa.gov, or mailed to:

   Washington Department of Ecology

Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (CC-GRP)

P.O. Box 47600

Olympia, WA 98504-7600