Press Release: Olympia, WA) Puget Sound's Strait of Juan de Fuca will for the first time be protected year-round by a standby rescue tug stationed at Neah Bay, thanks to action by the legislature which budgeted $3.65 million for contract services.

The 2008 supplemental operating budget was adopted this week before the session's adjournment and funds a rescue tug through June 2009.

"This is great news," said Kathy Fletcher, executive director of People For Puget Sound. "The rescue tug has repeatedly saved our marine environment from oil spills. We have a few nervous months head, but starting in July, we'll be good for a whole year."

The rescue tug's current part-time contract ended March 7, after which time it went off duty.

Click here to read the complete story in the Journal of the San Juans.

Additional story in the Seattle P-I.