SEATTLE — U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard personnel plan to conduct an oil spill response drill in the waters of British Columbia, Canada, and the United States in the Strait of Juan de Fuca today and Thursday.
The drill will be in partnership with the state Department of Ecology and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment.
Oil spill response equipment will be deployed in the vicinity of Port Angeles and Freshwater Bay today, the Coast Guard said in a press release issued Tuesday.
The equipment may be visible from the shore.
The drill will use a dye in the water to engage responders as they simulate on-water recovery operations with vessels, booms and skimmers.
The Coast Guard said the dye is harmless and non-toxic.
The purpose of the drill is to test the activation process for the Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan, Pacific Annex (CANUSPAC Annex) and to test moving response assets and personnel across the U.S./Canadian border, the Coast Guard said.
The CANUSPAC Annex is a plan designed to provide an international cleanup response if it is needed.
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 aerial assets and vessels.
Wildlife subject matter experts will be on hand to monitor for marine species in the area.
