Carole Migden Cares

My State Senator - the one and only Carole Migden - cannot be accused of not sending out very timely emails. Just got this one in my inbox and, since it contains info regarding the fuel oil spill in S.F. Bay and what is being done about it, I reprint it here in its entirety...

Carole Migden with 8th wife Elizabeth Taylor

UPDATE ON THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY OIL SPILL


Dear Friend:

As you probably are aware, at 8:30 a.m. yesterday a container vessel, the COSCO BUSAN, collided with the D span of the Bay Bridge. Damage to the forward left side has caused at least 58,000 gallons of heavy-duty bunker fuel to spill into the San Francisco Bay. Clean up actions were immediately initiated to begin the removal of fuel from the San Francisco Bay and CALTRANS has confirmed there is no structural damage to the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

Here is an update on what is being done to clean-up the spill and to protect people, wildlife and the environment:

The U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency for monitoring and cleaning up the spill. A Unified Command has been set up with the US Coast Guard, California Fish and Game's Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response, and the O'Brien's Group (contracted by the responsible party). Pollution investigators and marine inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard are continuing to investigate the amount of the fuel spilled and the cause of the accident. Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard, the City and County of San Francisco, California Fish & Game, National Marine Sanctuary, US Fish & Wildlife, Department of Emergency Management, Treasure Island Development and the Bay Area Air Quality Control Board will be watching the situation closely and will communicate regularly with the public as the situation changes.

Air Quality

The Bay Area Air Quality Management Board is actively participating in safety monitoring and performing air sampling along port property.

Ferry Schedules

Ferry schedules have not been interrupted because the spill did not pose risks to passengers or crews.

Closed Beaches

The Department of Public Health has determined that it is unsafe to swim in some locations and therefore has closed the following beaches: Baker Beach, Crissy Field, China Beach, and Fort Point in San Francisco as well as Dillon Beach and Kirby Cove and Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands.

Reporting, Helping Oiled Animals

The public is asked to report any injured and/or oiled wildlife to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 877-823-6926. The network recommends that people DO NOT pick up or approach oiled animals. The network is not recruiting volunteers for animal rescue right now, but may be, depending on the extent of the damage. People interested in volunteering should check the network website at www.owcn.org for updates on volunteer efforts. The site is updated constantly.

Fishing

The San Francisco Port has posted signs in multiple languages directing people not to fish off key locations on Port property.

Important Contact Numbers

To report oil sightings, please call 985-781-0804

To report oiled wildlife, please call 877-823-6926

To submit a claim for oiled property, please call 888-850-8486


If I can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call my district office in San Francisco at 415-557-1300 or San Rafael at 415-479-6612.

Sincerely,

State Senator Carole Migden


>P.S. Say what you will about Carole Migden, but, sad to say, this little effort at informing her constituency of a potentially major problem is a hell of a lot more than most of my reps have done... so kudos to Ms. Migden.