Wash. state to monitor tsunami debris for radiation
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Gov. Chris Gregoire and other state officials are holding a news conference Monday at Ocean Shores to explain how the state is responding to debris on the Washington coast from the Japanese tsunami.
The governor's office says Health Department staff will demonstrate how they use Geiger counters to test for radioactive contamination from Japan's calamitous March 11, 2011, tsunami, which disabled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
In addition to Gregoire, Health Secretary Mary Selecky, Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant and Washington National Guard commander Timothy Lowenberg will be at the news conference.
Greater amounts of tsunami debris have begun washing ashore on the Pacific coast of the U.S., from California to Alaska. But the volume of debris is expected to increase next year and continue for several more months or years.
So far, the debris has included floats from fishing boats, a foamlike material and other more unusual items, including a 66-foot dock, a derelict fishing vessel and a motorcycle inside a crate.
The governor's office says Health Department staff will demonstrate how they use Geiger counters to test for radioactive contamination from Japan's calamitous March 11, 2011, tsunami, which disabled the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
In addition to Gregoire, Health Secretary Mary Selecky, Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant and Washington National Guard commander Timothy Lowenberg will be at the news conference.
Greater amounts of tsunami debris have begun washing ashore on the Pacific coast of the U.S., from California to Alaska. But the volume of debris is expected to increase next year and continue for several more months or years.
So far, the debris has included floats from fishing boats, a foamlike material and other more unusual items, including a 66-foot dock, a derelict fishing vessel and a motorcycle inside a crate.
