Governor Opens State Investigation Into Spill
Schwarzenegger directed the state Office of Spill Prevention and Response to lead the investigation with assistance from the state Department of Fish & Game and the Office of Emergency Services. VIDEO: State Opens Oil Investigation Investigators will identify any civil or criminal liabilities, assess the economic and environmental damage done by the spill as well as propose any necessary changes in procedures. "Any delays that hamper response and cleanup efforts are completely unacceptable," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "We will investigate the full breadth of the incident and get all of the answers. I want to assure all Californians that we will take any action necessary to prevent this from ever happening again." In a letter to state legislative leaders, Schwarzenegger made some preliminary proposals for new regulations in response to the spill including "speed limit restrictions, tugboat escorts and fog sailing limits" for vessels entering and leaving San Francisco Bay. Schwarzenegger also pledged that state officials would cooperate fully with all federal inquiries regarding the spill. The governor's office did not release any details about the length of the investigation. Cleanup Officials Provide Updated Numbers Cleanup officials have provided the latest numbers on the Nov. 7 Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay. Officials said 16,974 gallons of 58,000 gallons of oil reportedly spilled have been collected, Sutton said. About 4,060 gallons of oil have evaporated, and 580 have dispersed. Wildlife counts are also in. Nearly 900 birds have been recovered alive. Of those recovered alive, 146 died or were euthanized and 324 were cleaned and are ready for release, Sutton said. More than 800 birds died because of the spill, he said. All boats skimming oil off the surface of the bay have been taken off the waters today, California Department of Fish & Game Lt. John Sutton said. Volunteers and workers continue collecting oil along shorelines. Bay Area Crab Fisherman Sit Out First Day Of Season Crab fishermen in San Francisco, Bodega Bay and Half Moon Bay are spending the day on land because there is doubt there will be a market for their catch in the wake of the 58,000-gallon oil spill last week in the San Francisco Bay. Chuck Wise, president of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association and a Bodega Bay fisherman said that as of 11 a.m., no boats were going to sea from the three locations even though fishing is allowed in the Bodega and Half Moon bays area. The California Department of Fish & Game established a no fishing zone Wednesday within 3 miles of shore from south of Point Reyes Lighthouse to San Pedro Point north of Half Moon Bay because of the spill after the Cosco Busan struck a tower of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Nov. 7. Fishing north of Point Reyes Lighthouse and south of Point San Pedro is still allowed. The commercial crab season was to open Thursday but has been delayed until at least Dec. 1. Wise said no processors are interested in buying crab because of the potential for tainted crab from the spill. He said a partial closure "won't guarantee good quality." "There are a very few boats from outside the area fishing but it sounds like they may have to dump them back because of no market," Wise said in an E-mail. Coast Guard Response Rear Admiral Craig Bone, Commander of the 11th Coast Guard District, appointed Capt. Paul Gugg to represent the U. S. Coast Guard responding to the Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay, NBC11 reported. Gugg will replace Capt. William Uberti. Bone sited 'problems' he had identified in the initial spill response communications and coordination for his decision. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen announced the move Wednesday at a hearing on Capitol Hill. It was followed by Bone's press release. Gugg is the head of the Coast Guard's Pacific Area Prevention Division. "Capt. Gugg will ensure seamless, continued cleanup operations of the ongoing response along with our partners on the Unified Command," he said. Uberti will return to his regular duties as commander of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco. Previous Stories:
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