Dangerous debris?

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (center), D-Ore., and U. S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (second from right) , D. Ore., stroll along Agate Beach in Newport to the site of the enormous dock that beached there last month, part of the debris heading toward the Oregon coast from last year’s tsunami in Japan. Wyden and Schrader then met with federal and state officials, commercial and sport fishermen, shipping representatives and others to discuss the potential threat to fishing and shipping interests. (Photos by Terry Dillman)

Federal lawmakers focus on fishing, shipping safety

SOUTH BEACH - Oregon authorities have established a network of 32 collection stations and everyone is on the lookout for tsunami debris that washes up on the state’s beaches, but U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) are similarly concerned by threats to fishing and shipping interests by debris still floating randomly across the Pacific Ocean.

“We need to understand the degree of threat and how to respond to it,” Schrader said during a Saturday morning press conference and meeting with state and federal officials, commercial and recreational fishermen, shipping representatives and others at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC).

For the complete article see the 07-04-2012 issue.

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