SHORELINE STATUS

These parks and shorelines are open: Crown Memorial State Beach, Miller Knox Regional Shoreline, Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, Brooks Island Regional Preserve, and Eastshore State Park.

OIL CONTACT SAFETY TIPS

OEHHA (Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment) has issued the following safety advice for beaches in the spill area:

• Avoid direct contact with spilled oil, which can cause skin irritation. Prolonged contact can cause rashes.
• If you get oil or tar on your skin, wash it off with soap and water, and be certain to wash your hands before eating.
• If you get oil on your clothing, wash it in the usual way. There is no need to use harsh detergents, solvents or other chemicals to wash oil from skin or clothing.
• Do not burn driftwood or other debris that may be contaminated with oil.
• Use common sense. Do not swim in water with an oil slick and do not swallow water from the area. Oil-contaminated water can cause choking and lead to severe pneumonia if it gets into the lungs.
• There is no risk of adverse health effects from breathing air near spilled oil unless there isprolonged exposureto fumes in closed spaces.

Source: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (www.oehha.ca.gov)

If you have any concerns regarding your health, it is recommended that you contact your personal physician.

IMPORTANT NOTICES

Updated Incident Information: visit www.coscobusanincident.com/go/site/1641/. For information from the join committee in charge of responding to the spill, Coast Guard, State Office of Spill Prevention and Response and a Cosco Busan contractor. Concerned citizens should call (415) 398-9617 to report any sightings of oil on beaches.

Park District Hotline: All reports of oiled birds (alive or dead) or to report oil in one of the regional parks, please contact our public safety department at 510-881-1833. The Park District does not currently have any volunteer opportunities available. If you would like up-to-date information about park and trail closure, safety tips around oil, or other information, please call the District's hotline at 510-544-2201. This hotline does not accept messages. Thank you!

Fishing: The State of California, Department of Fish and Game has lifted the fishing ban in the Bay. (Download California Dept. of Fish and Game Press Release On Lifting Fishing Ban). At this time, Park District shorelines remain closed to the public however we hope to have those open very soon. The pier at Point Pinole and the pier at Ferry Point Pier at Miller-Knox are both open for fishing.

More About Oil Spills and the Environment: For more information on oil spills, oil and the Bay environment, and what you can do to protect the Bay and ocean, visit the California Coastal Commission, Oil Spill Education website at www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/oilspills.html.

Oil Precautions: While this oil is considered a hazardous material, risks are generally low with a few safety precautions. (See Safety Tips)

STATS

• Over 100 park employees and East Bay Conservation Corp staff were specially trained in Hazardous Materials response by the Department of Fish and Game's hazmat training and oiled-bird rescue specifically for this oil spill.
• GOOD NEWS! Annual Federally endangered California clapper rail count occurred at Arrowhead Marsh (Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline) and Elsie Romer Bird Sanctuary (Crown Beach) on Monday, November 26. A total of 121 California clapper rail were counted and at this time, none of them showed signs of oil contamination!
• From the moment the East Bay Regional Park District realized the impact of this incident, more than 100 East Bay Regional Park District staff including biologists, environmental planners, shoreline managers, park rangers, police and fire personnel were involved in assessment, and bird rescues throughout the regional shoreline.
• On Thursday, November 8, staff were trained in Emergency HAZMAT and bird rescue especially for this incident.
• On Friday, November 9 – Monday, November 12, the East Bay Regional Park District located and staffed an incident command center at Eastshore State Park.
• The Park District has played an active role in participating in the Incident Command Center at Treasure Island.
• The District created an internal oil spill task force involving all Shoreline Park Supervisors and members from the District’s Public Safety staff.
• Fifty (50) park district employees rescued over 150 live birds during the first week after the incident.

WAYS TO HELP

While we appreciate our many volunteers, at this time, we do not have additional projects for this oil spill, however, if you are interested in general in-park volunteer opportunities please contact kfusek@ebparks.org.

Last Updated: February 25, 2008 9:30am

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OILED BIRD RESCUE SLIDESHOW

Photos and captions by: Hillary Van Austen

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