California Governor Schwarzenegger Visits Bay Area Oil Spill Site, Proclaims State of Emergency

11/09/2007 -- As he visited the site of Wednesday’s oil spill in the San Francisco Bay, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a State of Emergency. He also directed the California Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) to tap into a state-maintained, industry-supported trust fund to ensure that all possible resources are being utilized to expedite the cleanup process.

“I have signed an emergency proclamation, so all the state’s resources can be coordinated to address this oil spill. I have also directed my Office of Spill Prevention and Response to work with the ship owner and federal and local authorities to bring in whatever resources are needed to clean this up immediately,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “And to make sure there is no bureaucratic delay, I have told OSPR to use the state’s Response Trust Fund to throw everything we possibly can at this without wasting a minute of time.”

A proclamation of emergency allows the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to deploy emergency personnel, equipment and facilities and provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

So far in response to this incident, the state has taken a number of actions. Currently deployed in the San Francisco Bay and outside of the Golden Gate Bridge are skimmers, mechanized oil recovery systems. The skimmers utilize a belt that is made from a material that attracts oil. Additionally, 18,000 feet of boom have been placed around the Bay Area to protect the beaches and wildlife. Flyovers are being conducted to evaluate the movement of the spilled oil and to assist in the directing of oil spill response vessels.

A unified response team to clean up the spill consists of the OSPR under the Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and representatives of the vessel owner.

Additionally, private companies involved in the clean up progress are the Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) and National Response Center (NRC). Also, officials from the city and county of San Francisco, the National Marine Sanctuary, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Department of Emergency Management, Treasure Island Development and the Bay Area Air Quality Control Board are all monitoring the clean up progress.

Below is the full text of the Governor’s emergency proclamation:

A PROCLAMATION
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS on November 8, 2007, a significant oil spill occurred when the container ship COSCO BUSAN struck the fender surrounding a footing of the western span of the Bay Bridge in the San Francisco Bay; and

WHEREAS this incident caused approximately 53,000 gallons of medium fuel-grade oil to spill into the San Francisco Bay and continues to spread, causing damage in the City and County of San Francisco, as well as the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Solano and Sonoma; and

WHEREAS the spill continues to create conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property in the area; and

WHEREAS the spill continues to threaten marine life in the area, including marine mammals, birds and fish populations; and

WHEREAS local governments and businesses along the San Francisco Bay shore and coast will be impacted by this oil spill for a very long time; and

WHEREAS I have already directed my Department of Fish and Game, Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response and other agencies of the state to take aggressive action to mitigate the oil spill; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of the oil spill, by reason of their magnitude, are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist in the City and County of San Francisco and the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Solano and Sonoma due to the effects of this oil spill.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within the City and County of San Francisco and the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Solano and Sonoma; and

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the State Emergency Plan, and that OES provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT the California Conservation Corps, CalFire, and CaliforniaVolunteers shall proactively work to ensure all resources are available to clean-up the ecosystem and restore the shore environment.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT the Department of Fish and Game and the Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response take appropriate actions to: (1) clean up and mitigate the oil spill; and (2) hold the responsible parties accountable for the clean-up and mitigation of the impact of the oil spill.

IT IS FUTHERED ORDERED THAT the Department of Transportation take immediate steps to repair and restore any damage caused to the fender of the western span of the Bay Bridge.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 9th day of November 2007.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California

ATTEST:

DEBRA BOWEN
Secretary of State

Source: California Governor

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