Marine debris item found in Seaview being examined

SEAVIEW, WASH. – State officials are examining a large, metal cylinder that washed ashore Monday at Cape Disappointment State Park to determine if it came from Japan as a result of being swept out to sea by the 2011 tsunami.

The cylinder is longer than a small pickup truck. While no markings have been detected yet, some algae and other sea life were attached to the item. View photographs on Flickr.

As a precaution, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife official will check it for potential invasive species. A Washington Department of Health official examined the cylinder Tuesday and, as expected, found no radioactive contamination above normal background levels.