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Who Pays to Clean Up U.S. Tsunami Debris? [VIDEO]

Tons of Japanese tsunami debris is washing up on U.S. shores, some of the 1.5 million tons of garbage, boats and other items washed out to see in last year’s earthquake and tsunami.  So, who’s going to pay to clean it all up?

FOX News Radio’s Chris Hoenig reports:

Audio clip:

The state of Oregon spent $84,000 to have a contractor get rid of a 66-foot Japanese dock that washed ashore this year.  And while the Surfrider Foundation’s Charlie Plybon has an armada of volunteers ready, they aren’t free, either.

(Plybon) “They will get out here, they’ll help us, you know, remove debris.  But we need money for the eventual disposal of that debris.”

Alaska Democratic Senator Mark Begich, introducing a bill that will allocate $45 million Federal dollars for tsunami clean up.

(Sen. Begich) “We would see no different if there was a tornado, a hurricane, an earthquake, a flood.  We’d be right there.”

Right now, it’s up to the states to take care of the debris.  That dock ate up more than half of Oregon’s beach clean up budget for two years.

Chris Hoenig, FOX News Radio.

WATCH more on the tsunami debris debate HERE:

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2 Comments

  1. Peggy

    June 26, 2012 at 12:06 am

    The Japanese have had a lot of trouble lately. They might have even more in the future. Give them some help.

  2. Stan

    July 6, 2012 at 11:35 am

    This is the Japanese problem so let them foot the bill. Who helps us when we have a disaster? NO ONE