Oil Spill Cleanup Efforts Continue in San Francisco Area

The public is reminded that they should avoid areas and wildlife that are oiled, as untrained persons may cause further damage, while attempting to assist.

Rear Admiral Craig Bone (left), commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, explains the details of the Cosco Busan incident in the San Francisco Bay to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Governor visited the Bay Area to see first hand the response efforts to the oil spilled after the M/V Cosco Busan struck one of the towers of the Bay Bridge Tuesday morning. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Kevin J. Neff

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) - The Coast Guard is the federal on-scene coordinator for cleanup of an oil spill that occurred when motor vessel Cosco Busan, a 900-foot container carrier, hit one of the towers of the San Francisco Bay Bridge Wednesday morning. The Coast Guard is coordinating activities of 40 state, federal and local agencies in cleanup operations.

Oil Spill Cleanup volunteers

Coast Guard Commandant Thad W. Allen visited San Francisco to review progress in cleanup efforts in the Cosco Busan oil spill in San Francisco Bay, touring affected areas, reviewing progress of the cleanup and meeting with local leaders.

A massive cleanup operation is underway in California to eradicate the spill. Since Wednesday, 11 skimmers were currently deployed on the water, with the assistance of 10 wildlife recovery teams that are on the beaches. So far, over 9,500 gallons of fuel oil have been recovered to date.

Coast Guard officials say more than 38,000 feet of boom has been placed around the area to soak up and corral the oil, and more than 450 people from 40 federal, state, local, and private agencies are involved with the response efforts, including 200 trained responders who arrived today to supplement the initial response team.

While they have been working, 94 live, oiled birds are being rehabilitated, and 28 confirmed deceased birds have been reported.

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The public is reminded that they should avoid areas and wildlife that are oiled, as untrained persons may cause further damage, while attempting to assist.

A number of Bay Area Beach Closures were listed for today, November 13th.

Those locations are:
* Clipper Cove Beach, T.I.
* Aquatic Park (Booms in place)
* SF Municipal Pier
* Ft. Point
* Baker Beach (Heavy Oil)
* China Beach (Light Oil)
* Ft. Baker
* Mile Rock Beach
* Kirby Cove (Heavy Oil)
* Rodeo Beach (Heavy Oil)
* Tennesee Valley
* Muir Beach (Heavy Oil)
* Angel Island (Heavy Oil)
* Keller Beach
* Ferry Point
* Point Isabel
* Baxter Creek to Lucretia Edwards Park
* Coastal Access point to Cliffside; Pt. Richmond
* Middle Harbor Regional Park
* Steep Ravine Beach (Mt. Tamalpais)
* Red Rock Beach (Mt. Tamalpais)
* Crissy Field Beach (booms in place)
* Stinson Beach
* Linda Mar Beach
* Rockaway Beach
* Sharp Park Beach
* Ocean Beach has an advisory posted
* San Francisco Piers 1-39 Booms in place