Cosco Busan Spill Response
Joint Command

Date: Nov. 14, 2007

Contact: Unified Command
Joint Information Center
(415) 398-9218
(415) 398-9621

Cosco Busan Oil Spill Update Nov. 14, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO --  The Unified Command for the Cosco Busan oil spill continues response efforts as clean up crews focus on beaches around the bay area.

Ocean Beach has been partially closed as of Nov. 13, at 7:00 p.m. due to hazardous conditions. It is closed from Cliffhouse to Lincoln Ave. and open from Lincoln Ave. to Fort Funsten. There is light oil covering the beach in the closed area.

The new contact phone number for new oil sightings has been changed to 415-398-9617.

The Unified Command announced that as of 7:00 p.m. last night, 1,517 people are participating in the spill response efforts.

The public is still urged to avoid areas and wildlife that are affected, as untrained people can cause further damage to the environment and stress on the wildlife. Allowing your dogs to run on impacted beaches will create an even greater stress for injured wildlife. Concerned citizens should call (415) 701-2311 to report any sightings of oiled wildlife. Please note this is a new number, and the number used previously is no longer in service. 

Members of the public without proper training should not attempt to collect the oil, since it needs to be disposed of properly to prevent broader contamination and re-introduction to the environment. In addition, exposure to the oil can be hazardous for your health.

The most recent information about the clean-up is as follows:

-More than 27,500 feet of containment boom is currently deployed to confine and collect oil in the water.
-12,745 gallons of oil has been collected.
-580 gallons have been dispersed naturally.
-An additional estimated 4,060 gallons of oil has evaporated.
-53 vessels are working to remediate the spill.
-Three helicopters are surveying the area.  
-804 live oiled birds recovered.
-244 birds washed.
-105 birds died/euthanized.
-590 collected dead.

For a list of closed beaches, please go to www.uscgsanfrancisco.com. A list of beaches where the public can assist in cleanup efforts without hazardous material training, can also be found at www.uscgsanfrancisco.com. A coordinator will be on-site to provide direction to the volunteers. Any volunteer who finds oiled material must report it to the coordinator on site. For additional information please go to the following points of contact:
Baykeeper - www.baykeeper.org      City of San Francisco - Dial 311      Dept. of Fish and Game - www.dfg.ca.gov
A new number has been established for filing insurance claims. The new number is : 866-442-9650
For imagery from the response effort click here.

  FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES VISIT www.owcn.org          TO REPORT OIL SIGHTINGS, CALL 415-398-9617          TO REPORT OILED WILDLIFE, CALL 415-701-2311