Vast areas of coastlines may be coated with oil several inches deep and the odor permeates the air.  The impact on wildlife may be catastrophic - killing seabirds in huge numbers, poisoning seals and dolphins, killing innumerable fish and intertidal invertebrates, devastating kelp forests and displacing population of endangered birds.

Puget Soundkeeper Alliance has had a role in oil spill prevention planning and legislation through participation in:

• the Oil Transfer Operations Advisory Committee
  
• the Washington Oil Spill Rules Advisory Committee and
• the Pacific Oil Spill Prevention Education Team (POSPET) which coordinates boater education, spill reporting and other pollution prevention efforts from California to Alaska (including British Columbia).

 Read about local oil spills in the news