Conditions too dangerous to examine dock from Japanese tsunami ashore at La Push
Source: Seattle PI
Seattle PI - Jake Ellison
A large dock that landed ashore on the coast between LaPush and the mouth of the Hoh River last night will not be examined by officials today because of weather and sea conditions, said Dave Workman a spokesman for the Washington State Department of Ecology.
However, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell said in a press release that the dock was washed out to sea in the March 2011 tsunami that devastated large parts of Japan. The researcher who identified the dock as tsunami debris was working under a RAPID National Science Foundation grant.
According to initial estimates, the dock is 60 feet long, 19 feet wide, 7 feet tall, and weighs at least 188 tons, Cantwell's office said in the release.
"I applaud the U.S. Coast Guard and state and federal officials for working around the clock to locate and respond to the threat posed by this tsunami debris, as well as the Quinault Indian Nation for their assistance with monitoring and response," Cantwell said. "While officials continue to respond to the situation, it is important to monitor for any invasive species that may be attached to the dock and threaten our marine life.
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