Washington officials plan for arrival of more tsunami debris

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire says federal help is needed
to help clean up tsunami debris that reaches the West
Coast.

She told a news conference Monday morning at Ocean Shores,
“We don’t have the resources at the state level to do what
we’re going to have to do here.”

Gregoire announced a “Clean Shoreline Initiative” to be
led by Washington National Guard commander Timothy
Lowenberg. It would include the state Health Department
and other agencies.

The governor says there’s no reason to fear seafood or
visiting coastal beaches. Health Secretary Mary Selecky
says monitoring has found no radiation in salmon.

The state also is monitoring for invasive species, but
Gregoire says she’s not aware of any arriving on tsunami
debris.

On Friday a 20-foot boat with Japanese writing washed
ashore at Ilwaco. It was cleaned at a maintenance yard at
Cape Disappointment State Park because officials are
concerned tsunami debris may carry non-native species that
could invade the local ecosystem.

Sen. Maria Cantwell has said West Coast states should get
federal help to deal with tsunami debris, such as the 66-
foot dock that landed on a beach near Newport, Ore.

The dock, torn loose from a fishing port on the northern
tip of Japan, was covered with 1.5 tons of seaweed,
mussels, barnacles and even a few starfish. Volunteers
scraped it all off, buried it above the high water line,
and sterilized the top and sides of the dock with torches.

Cantwell says invasive species pose a serious threat the
coastal economy and that West Coast states and communities
shouldn’t have to bear the costs of removing such debris
on their own. She says the federal government needs a
comprehensive plan for helping communities deal with the
debris.

It is too early for scientists to know how much Japanese
tsunami debris may add to the invasive species already
here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.