Susan Chambers, Staff Writer

SITE OF NEW CARISSSA — Black stuff. Brown stuff. White stuff.

It all came spewing out of a hose and pipe suspended from the cranes and barges at the New Carissa wreck on Friday. Titan was in the process of “air lifting” — flushing sand and water out of the way with pressurized air. It’s a common process used in salvage operations. It’s similar to how commercial crab fishermen flush out pots that have been covered over by sand, too.

And all that dark junk that’s coming up with the sand is safe, environmental officials said.

“This is what naturally occurs when sand sits for nine years,” said National Response Corporation Environmental Services Project Supervisor Randy Henry.

NRC is contracted through the Oregon Department of State Lands to come up with contingency plans and monitor the beach 24 hours a day for any sign of contamination.

Michael Renz, the state on-scene coordinator for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, also was at the New Carissa compound. He’s been at the site every day since Tuesday.

“I’m only here during the heightened potential for (contaminant) release,” Renz said.

Henry, though, started the process much earlier. He started getting equipment and supplies together in February. He also put together an oil-spill response plan, some of the health and safety procedures and worked closely with Titan Salvage on the salvage operation itself.

Part of NRC’s mobilization effort includes the small trailer office at the compound, the site on the North Spit where Titan salvors start their days, heading out on the cable car to the barges. The full plan includes constructing a decontamination pad on the beach, too. The pad is simple — two plastic tiles the likes of which make the compound a stable area on which to drive. It’s there if it ever is needed for decontaminating people.

The rest of the plan includes a 40-foot trailer stored locally that has more tools and equipment, a separate 20-foot trailer just north of Henry’s office that holds more tools and equipment such as containment booms and absorbent pads. Also available locally is a wildlife rehabilitation trailer and additional all-terrain vehicles and waste containers.

“We have a full complement of supplies for response,” Henry said.

And that’s only the half of it.

“DEQ has a full staff,” Renz added.

Worst-case scenario

Henry and Renz both laughed a little bit at the thought of a worst-case scenario. Both feel they’ve gone overboard in efforts to make sure the beach, the surrounding surf zone, the ocean and all wildlife and people are protected.

Some of that is due to efforts made when the New Carissa first was grounded on the beach in 1999.

“It was completely wiped down and washed,” Renz said.

Henry was there when salvors gave up the first time and the stern began to dig its way into the North Spit sand. By that time, he said, the engines all had been drained of oil. They also drained lube oils from the steering gears, oils and grease from the generators, winches, hoists and fuel tanks. Even rotten food from the refrigerator — something both agreed was particularly nasty — was removed.

“Any kind of liquid contaminants,” Henry said. “I was overseeing it. I was on the ship on a daily basis.”

Henry just shook his head at the thought of anything washing up on the beach. He’s been on projects that spill miles of oil. He said the chance of seeing a few tar balls — though he doubts there will be any — is minuscule.

Still, not an hour goes by that he doesn’t drive the beach or walk it, checking for any residuals that may turn up.

But on Friday, all he saw was clean beaches and sanderlings playing in the surf.

“This is probably the best-planned-for, best-staffed event,” Renz said.

Communication

In addition to driving or walking the beach, Henry said he’s in constant contact with the crews on the barges. Salvage Master Shelby Harris will call Henry on the radio if he believes the crews may be working in potentially contaminated area.

So far, nothing has happened.

And to help keep the public informed, several Oregon State Parks rangers patrol the beach regularly.

On Friday, Ranger Marian Jansen was talking with Per Kasch, of Portland, who walked to the beach to see the shipwreck.

“I’m just cruising around Oregon and went to see it,” Kasch said.

Henry, though, has seen the progress day in and day out. A lot of it is the same thing, different day.

But he’s glad no contaminants have washed up on the beach.

“It’s almost an underwhelming incident,” Henry added.

— Staff Writer Jolene Guzman contributed to this report.