Tsunami-debris hotline to end Dec. 31; state got too few calls
Published 12:01 am Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Peninsula Daily News news services
OLYMPIA —
State officials say they’re suspending a hotline set up for reporting marine debris because it hasn’t been getting calls.
The hotline was set up so beach-goers and others could report potentially dangerous or tsunami-related marine debris that turned up on Washington’s shorelines.
Officials plan to take the hotline 1-855-WACOAST offline at 5 p.m. Dec. 31.
State official Terry Egan says the state hasn’t had a major marine incident in nearly a year, and the overall amount of debris found on beaches has also decreased.
People can still report hazardous marine debris such as gas cans and oil drums to another hotline, 1-800-OILS-911.
Those who find non-hazardous marine debris that is suspected from the 2011 Japan tsunami can email DisasterDebris@noaa.gov.
