Oil spill in Washington state blamed on ConocoPhillips oil tanker

SEATTLE (AP) _ The aging oil tanker of a company that employs thousands of Oklahomans is being blamed for a 1,000 gallon oil spill in Washington state. <br/><br/>Officials in that state and from the federal

Friday, December 24th 2004, 5:55 am

By: News On 6

SEATTLE (AP) _ The aging oil tanker of a company that employs thousands of Oklahomans is being blamed for a 1,000 gallon oil spill in Washington state.

Officials in that state and from the federal government say lab tests prove that Conoco-Phillips' Polar Texas tanker was the source of an October 14th spill near Tacoma.

The spill cost nearly $2-million dollars to clean up and left a 21-mile oily slick in Puget Sound.

The Houston-based company denies the accusation and alleges the government hasn't shared results of the tests with the company.

Conoco-Phillips employs about 2,400 in Bartlesville and about 1,600 in Ponca City.

The 899-foot Polar Texas went into service in 1973.