coastguardstation

PORT ANGELES – An international oil spill response drill will happen near Port Angeles this week.

U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard crews along with state and provincial environmental regulators will do the drill in the contiguous waters of Canada and the United States tomorrow and Thursday.

Thursday, oil spill response equipment will be deployed near Port Angeles and Freshwater Bay and may be visible from the shore. Organizers say the drill will use a harmless, non-toxic dye in the water to engage responders as they simulate on-water recovery operations with vessels, boom and skimmers.

The purpose of the drill is to test the activation process for the Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan and to test moving response assets and personnel across the U.S.-Canadian border.

Pollution response crews with cleanup equipment from both nations will be part of the drill along with cooperating oil spill response organizations and federal and state agencies. The drill will include helicopters, airplanes and ships.

Wildlife experts will also be on hand to monitor for marine species in the area.

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