Gov. Gregoire�s statement on the U.S. Coast Guard�s decision to fund the removal of derelict barge

For Immediate Release: February 17, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the announcement by U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert Papp that funds from the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund will be used to pay for the removal of the Davy Crockett barge, which has been leaking oil in the Columbia River:

�I�m pleased by Coast Guard Commandant Papp�s decision to use the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to remove and dismantle the derelict Davy Crockett barge. These federal funds are only used to respond to or clean up pollution. This decision demonstrates a high level of support for the partnership formed by the Coast Guard, Washington Department of Ecology and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in responding to this serious pollution threat on the Columbia River.

�The issue remains of how we improve the monitoring and management of large derelict vessels so that we avoid these types of costly and intensive response efforts in the future. I pledge to work with our partners at the local, state, federal, industry and advocacy level to develop long-term solutions.�