RRT/NWAC WORKGROUP TASK FORCE 2011
Workgroup: Columbia River Derelict Vessels
Purpose:
The Columbia River Derelict Vessel Task Force is a forum of stakeholders whose purpose is to
identify and remove imminent pollution and hazard to navigation threats from derelict vessels,
barges, and houseboats along the upper, middle and lower Columbia River and Willamette Rivers in
the states of Washington and Oregon. .
Mission Statement:
The mission of this task force is to recommend policy, share information, and foster the collaborative
and shared efforts of Task Force members to identify and mitigate the harmful effects of derelict
vessels, barges, and houseboats along the middle and lower Columbia River and Willamette Rivers.
Guidelines:
Flexibility is provided to the taskforce to modify the objectives to best accomplish the Charter’s
mission. The taskforce will forward issues through the Steering Committee to the Executive
Committee as needed for approval/consensus. Each task force has a point of contact (POC) from the
Steering Committee to assist in coordination between the task force and the Steering Committee. The
Steering Committee POC for this task force is LCDR Kelly Thorkilson, USCG.
Each task force has an executive sponsor from the Executive Committee to assist in promoting the
efforts of the task force to the Executive Committee, and ensuring appropriate involvement from
other agencies. The executive sponsor for this workgroup is CAPT Doug Kaup, USCG.
The Chair is responsible for regular communication with the designated Steering Committee POC,
including providing meeting minutes, updates, and change recommendations to the Northwest Area
Contingency Plan (NWACP). The Chair for this task force is Mr. Randy Clark, USCG.
In addition to supporting the public policy work of the RRT/NWAC, recommendations and results of
the task force will also be provided to District 13 of the USCG, the Governors of the States of
Washington and Oregon, and the Washington Commissioner of Public Lands.
Objectives:
1. Inventory derelict vessels, barges, and houseboats along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
2. Determine derelict vessels, barges, and houseboats that pose actual or potential pollution threats
and hazard to navigation.
3. Prioritize and remove all pollution, HAZMAT, and navigational threats from identified derelict
vessels, barges, and houseboats. Prioritize and facilitate the removal of vessels that do not pose an
immediate threat of pollution or hazard to navigation through the Task Force collective authority.
4. Conduct regular, intense, smart surveillance for prevention of pollution, HAZMAT, or
navigational threats stemming from derelict vessels, barges, and houseboats.
5. Develop a list of law and policy areas for investigation where existing rules and policies could
be changed to facilitate the reduction of current and future derelict and abandoned vessels.
6. Identify opportunities to align Washington and Oregon laws addressing derelict vessels with the
goal of moving toward a consistent regulatory regime on the Columbia River.
7. Maintain effective communications with state and local agencies, CG Auxiliary, and Federal
partners.
Anticipated Work Products/Deliverables:
1. Develop a working inventory of derelict vessels presenting actual or potential pollution threats or
hazards to navigation.
2. Address pollution threats and navigational hazards, i.e., implement actions required to mitigate
identified threats and hazards from derelict vessels, developing case studies and success stories.
3. Develop a shared understanding of the current authorities and abilities of state and federal
agencies to prevent and address problems caused by derelict vessels and facilitate collaboration
of the agencies consistent with these current authorities and abilities. The Task Force may
recommend policies and future initiatives for future consideration of the RRT/NWAC and other
entities.
4. Sponsor workshops to inform, engage and solicit input from other stakeholders interested in
addressing the problems presented by derelict vessels.
5. Host a progress report briefing for the Governors of Oregon and Washington and the Washington
Commissioner of Public Lands to include a site visit and/or over flight of identified Columbia
River derelict vessels.
6. Provide progress reports on each of the preceding activities at the October RRT/NWAC meeting.
Task Force Members
CAPT Douglas E. Kaup, USCG Sector
Columbia River Captain of the Port and
NWAC CO-Chair (Executive Sponsor)
douglas.e.kaup@uscg.mil
LCDR Kelly Thorkilson, Sector Columbia
River Incident Management Chief (NWAC
Steering Committee POC)
kelly.a.thorkilson@uscg.mil
Mr. Randy Clark, Sector Columbia River
Marine Transportation Recovery and Salvage
Planner
(Task Force Chairman)
william.r.clark@uscg.mil
Rachel Bullene, Oregon State Marine Board
Oregon Clean Marina Coordinator
rbullene@osmb.state.or.us
Dave Byers, Washington Department of
Ecology, Spill Response Section Manager
dbye461@ecy.wa.gov
Jeff Christensen, Oregon Department of
Environmental Quality, Manager Emergency
Response/Environmental Cleanup, Land
Quality Division
christensen.jeff@deq.state.or.us
Melissa Montgomery Ferris, Washington State
Department of Natural Resources, Derelict
Vessel Removal Program Manager
melissa.ferris@dnr.wa.gov
Richard Franklin, EPA Federal On-Scene
Coordinator
Franklin.Richard@epamail.epa.gov
Nancy Pustis Oregon Division of State Lands,
Western Region Manager
Nancy.pustis@state.or.us
Louise Solliday, Director, Oregon State Lands
Louise.c.solliday@dsl.state.or.us
Ruth Yender, NOAA Scientific Support
Coordinator
Ruth.Yender@noaa.gov
Eric Braun, Army Corps of Engineers
Eric.P.Braun@usace.army.mil