Japan Gives $5 Million for Tsunami Debris Removal on West Coast

An article from The Oregonian reports that the Japanese government gave $5 million to the U.S. to help dispose of tsunami debris along the West Coast. Items from the 2011 tsunami that have drifted to U.S. shores include sports balls, buoys, boats, furniture, and more. Last June, a 66-foot, 188-ton dock from Japan washed up on Agate Beach at the Oregon Coast. 

The clean-up funds will be dispersed through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The articles notes that NOAA gave the state a $50,000 grant to help pay for the Agate Beach dock removal and tsunami debris removal. A second grant of $50,000 to $100,000 is expected from the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has spent $234,000 on clean-up efforts, including $85,000 to remove the dock, and $15,000 to implement a 211 phone system for citizens to report new debris.