Letter to Admiral Robert J. Papp, Commandant, United States Coast Guard

Letter

Today, Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) called on the U.S. Coast Guard to provide clarification about the agency's role in responding to debris arriving from Japan as a result of the tragic 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Nearly 100,000 tons of debris carrying numerous invasive species are expected to wash up along the shores of Washington and other Pacific Ocean states, posing a significant threat to the states' economic interests and delicate coastal ecologies. To date, the response from the Coast Guard and other federal agencies has not been consistent.

Congressman McDermott called for clarity in the debris response in a letter he sent to the Coast Guard that was cosigned by a bipartisan coalition of 27 Members of Congress, including Norm Dicks (D-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Adam Smith (D-WA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA).

In the letter, McDermott wrote, "Not only does this debris represent a significant threat to international shipping and other coastal industries, many invasive species have been discovered on this debris that, if left unaddressed, could represent an unprecedented threat to our coastal ecologies. In light of this serious threat we ask that you clarify your agency's role in responding to the arrival of tsunami debris on our coasts and we encourage close coordination with state and local entities as this response continues."

McDermott also highlighted the difference in the response to the 66-foot dock that was allowed to wash ashore in Oregon and the abandoned Japanese fishing boat, the Ryou-Un Mara, which was sunk by the Coast Guard 195 miles off the Alaskan Coast. "Given this inconsistency," McDermott wrote, "please provide us with the criteria that the Coast Guard uses to determine when it will take decisive and effective action like that which was taken in the case of the Ryou-Un Mara."

The McDermott letter was signed by Members from each of the Pacific Ocean states -- California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, as well as the U.S. territories in the Pacific -- and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, State, Interior, and the U.S. Navy were copied on the letter.

The full text of the letter to the follows:

Admiral Robert J. Papp
Commandant, United States Coast Guard
2100 2nd Street SW, STOP 7328
Washington, D.C. 20593-7238

Dear Admiral Papp:

Thank you for your continued dedication to defending our nation's maritime interests. As Members of Congress from the West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories in the Pacific we appreciate your work and know that your efforts are highly valued by our constituents.

We are writing about an important issue affecting our districts and the nation: the arrival of debris from the tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami resulted not only in the tragic loss of too many lives; they also caused nearly 5 million tons of debris to be swept into the Pacific Ocean. More than a year later, large pieces of debris are appearing along the Pacific Coast of the United States, and are expected to be just the beginning of nearly 100,000 tons of debris to wash up along the shores of Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California.

On June 5th, a 66-foot dock from Misawa Japan washed ashore on Agate Beach near Newport, Oregon. The arrival of this dock emphasizes the seriousness of the issue of marine debris from the tsunami. Not only does this debris represent a significant threat to international shipping and other coastal industries, many invasive species have been discovered on this debris that, if left unaddressed, could represent an unprecedented threat to our coastal ecologies. In light of this serious threat we ask that you clarify your agency's role in responding to the arrival of tsunami debris on our coasts and we encourage close coordination with state and local entities as this response continues.

Earlier this year, an abandoned Japanese fishing boat, the Ryou-Un Mara, which had been washed out to sea by the tsunami, was scuttled by the Coast Guard 195 miles off the Alaskan Coast. According to reports, collaboration by the Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quickly determined that sinking the ship at sea was the best option to protect coastal marine habitats and end any potential danger it might pose to other vessels. The arrival of the dock on the Oregon coast indicates that it was not determined to pose a similar threat. Given this inconsistency, please provide us with the criteria that the Coast Guard uses to determine when it will take decisive and effective action like that which was taken in the case of the Ryou-Un Mara.

Another concern that has been brought to our attention is the lack of information sharing by federal agencies with state and local government entities that are responsible for debris removal. We appreciate that the Coast Guard is asked to perform extraordinary work under difficult circumstances with limited resources, but we are concerned that local entities may not be notified before the arrival of potentially large pieces of debris. For this reason, we ask that you provide us with specific details about your procedure for reporting marine debris to local authorities and how you will ensure proper notification of potential threats caused by incoming hazards.

The earthquake and tsunami were unfortunate natural events beyond our control. The resulting debris presents a challenge of unprecedented scale to our overburdened state and local agencies. We are confident that the federal agencies with jurisdiction over marine debris issues, the state agencies responsible for maintaining the beaches and marine ecosystems, and the local governments and citizens who are committed to helping their communities can address this challenge. We want to work with you as this threat unfolds and we appreciate you providing us with the information necessary to do so.

We look forward to your response, and thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request.

Sincerely,