New Sheen Spreads As Officials Discuss Cleanup Costs
By Scott Radway
HAGÃ
TÃA, Guam (January 4, 2002 – Pacific Daily News)---Yap State officials are again asking the United States to drain oil from a sunken World War II ship, after it recently created another large oil sheen off Ulithi Atoll.
"Clearly, we have no means to respond," said Jesse Raglmar-Subolmar, Yap State's disaster coordinator. "We are in big trouble in terms of financing."
According to reports from Ulithi, the newest sheen was noticed Dec. 23 as it spread about four miles out from that island chain, Raglmar-Subolmar said yesterday. Luckily, this time, the oil is headed away from areas fished by the majority of the atoll's 700 residents, he said.
"But I don't think our environment can sustain further oil leaks," he added. The Ulithi lagoon is the main food source for people who live on Ulithi.
The first leak occurred when the USS Mississinewa -- a 553-foot Navy fuel ship...