Covid-19 Spills Program response

We are communicating by email with cargo and passenger vessels arriving in Washington waters. This allows us to review vessel documents, evaluate risk, and provide spill prevention information specific to Washington waters. Based on our screening observations, we share recommendations with vessel operating companies. We're evaluating options for resuming in-person inspections on vessels.

Preparedness team operations are resuming for in-person, outdoor drills on a case-by-case basis. This decision will be of made during drill design. When on-scene, we are maintaining six-foot social distancing and not gathering in groups. Additionally, Ecology will follow any company protocols for work. Indoor drills will largely continue to be evaluated in a virtual environment, dependent on whether social distancing and other protections can be continuously maintained. Contact Linda Pilkey-Jarvis at 360-280-7209 or linda.pilkey-jarvis@ecy.wa.gov for further clarification or to discuss options.

Response team operations continue at full capacity. We are still receiving calls during business hours, after-hours, and weekends.

When on scene, we are maintaining our six-foot social distancing and not gathering in groups. If we have to respond to locations that have or formerly had high public traffic, we will increase our level of personal protection to perform our work.