Cleanup called off after oil dissipates

The state Department of Ecology (DOE) yesterday called off the cleanup of an oil spill reported Friday morning in Puget Sound's Dalco Passage, saying the sheen had dissipated and was "unrecoverable."

The oil caused minimal damage to wildlife and the environment, the department said.

State investigators are trying to locate all vessels that passed through the Point Defiance area from late Thursday to early Friday, the time range when the spill is believed to have taken place, Coast Guard officials said.

Investigators will take fuel samples from the vessels in an effort to find a chemical match with oil recovered from the water.

The spill occurred around Point Defiance and spread from Gig Harbor through the Tacoma Narrows, along the western shore of Vashon Island's Quartermaster Harbor and into the Commencement Bay area.

The spill, which occurred close to the site of a 1,000-gallon spill three months ago, was spotted around the Tacoma Narrows Bridge by the Washington State Ferry Rhododendron at around 11:20 a.m.

"The sheen was much lighter and caused less damage than the black oil we saw three months ago," said DOE spokeswoman Sandy Howard.

Investigators don't know what kind of fuel was spilled, but some oil did wash ashore. State officials and some witnesses said they could not detect any fuel odor.

The oil was so thin that the Coast Guard and other state officials had to take "multiple samples to ensure they have enough to test," said Coast Guard spokesman Adam Eggers.

Yesterday morning, state officials said the sheen had dissipated. Oil-absorbent booms around the spill area were removed and cleanup crews were sent home.

Coast Guard officials said they don't know when the investigation would be completed and said earlier projections that the oil spill was hundreds of gallons were premature.

Anyone with information about the spill should contact either the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Puget Sound at 206-217-6232, or the DOE at 360-407-6300.

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com