Coast Guard responding to sheen near Westport, Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. - Coast Guard personnel are responding to a diesel and motor-oil sheen in the Westport Slough near Westport, Ore.

Coast Guard Sector Portland's Incident Management Division dispatched a team to the reported location at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, to investigate and ensure appropriate cleanup efforts are coordinated.

The owners of the Kerry West Marina in the Westport Slough reported a 40-foot by 1,000-foot sheen at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, originating from a 30-foot boat that sank at the dock. Personnel from the marina initiated cleanup efforts by deploying containment-boom and absorbent pads but the sheen has not been contained.

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An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched from Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., to confirm and survey the size of the sheen.

Cowlitz Clean Sweep contractors have been hired and are expected to arrive on scene at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday to conduct the remaining clean-up.

The amount of diesel fuel and motor oil released and the extent of the pollution's impact to the environment is unknown at this time.