Public commenters urge county attention to tanker spill risks and tug safety rule-making

Two members of the public raised concerns about tanker safety and local water-source contamination during the meeting’s public-comment period and urged the county to support state rule-making to require rescue tugs in the San Juan Islands and other strategic locations.

Kenneth Reando, a Port Angeles resident, said one of the county’s principal water sources was “poisoned” after a tanker incident and urged more protective measures. “I have a lot of questions. I’d like to know what kind of technology was in this truck and why this occurs,” Reando said; he asked for greater prevention measures in sensitive crossing areas.

Later in the comment period, resident Mike Shorty gave a detailed history of major oil spills in Washington waters between 1985 and 1990, naming the Tanya Maru, the Naseca and the Arco Anchorage, and said those events spilled almost a million gallons combined and remain the largest oil spills in state waters. Shorty urged the commissioners to consider sending a letter supporting state rule-making that would require an escort/rescue tug in the San Juan Islands; he noted the comment period for the rule-making record would close on August 1.

No formal county action on the request was recorded in the meeting; the comments were delivered during the general public-comment period.

Ending: Commenters asked the board to consider a letter of support for tug requirements and greater safeguards against spills affecting county water sources.