Islands’ Oil Spill Association: community-based oil spill response
Published 6:00 pm Friday, March 13, 2009
Islands’ Oil Spill Association responders were on the scene at Westsound, containing 50 gallons of diesel that was dumped into the water when a 47-foot Coho caught fire on Feb. 20.
The boat had 250 gallons of fuel on board before it sank, most of which was consumed in the fire. IOSA was on stand-by while the vessel was still at the dock, but when its lines burned, drifted a mile off shore, and began to sink, the organization got into action.
Within 10 minutes responders were on the scene. Eight from Orcas and three from Lopez worked on the clean up for several days.
When Orcas has an oil spill to clean up, there is only one local organization to call: Islands’ Oil Spill Association.
“We are the only spill response organization in the San Juan Islands,” IOSA coordinator Jackie Wolf said. “We have trained responders from all the islands, and we respond to spills wherever they happen in San Juan County.”
IOSA is run by Wolf and director Julie Knight, and supported by a dedicated legion of trained responders from throughout the county who head out to a spill any time of day or night – for very little pay.
