The state Department of Ecology has pulled an oil spill response company’s primary contractor certification after the firm failed to adequately respond during two recent drills along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
National Response Corp., which provides oil spill clean-up vessels in Port Angeles and Neah Bay, is no longer allowed to serve as “the primary responder.”
The company also owns oil spill equipment in the two cities, including pumps, hoses and booms.
“This is the first time we have decertified a response contractor, but we’ve never had spill drills go as badly as these,” said Linda Pilkey-Jarvis of Ecology’s spill-response program.
“For the time being, oil companies cannot rely on this contractor to fill their needs.”
Steve Candito, president of National Response, said Thursday that he hopes the New York-based company will be recertified.
Candito said he and Ecology officials are meeting to discuss the situation.
The certification was pulled Wednesday.
Full details appear in today’s edition of the Peninsula Daily News. Click onto “Subscribe” to have your PDN delivered to your home or office.