San Francisco fuel spill

Alex · 11-13-2007, 10:29 AM

According to the pilot (remember, when in the bay the boat is driven by a local (theoretically) expert) they barely felt anything on the boat.

The local NPR news did an amusing story on the volunteer clean up effort. They were explicit about it but I'm pretty sure they were trying to convey just how stupid the volunteering hoops are. Before they could do cleanup on Ocean Beach, the volunteers first had to sit through a 4 hours training session. Then they were given white hazmat suits, masks, and double gloves.

Then they went down to the beach to clean up where they were surrounded by tourists and surfers playing in the water. All of this hassle because touching the oil might cause mild skin irritation.

This is a big mistake and a problem, but personally I think the local media is way overreacting. I'm sorry but reports of a dozen dead shore birds really doesn't cause the tears to well up.

Snowflake · 11-13-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

This is a big mistake and a problem, but personally I think the local media is way overreacting. I'm sorry but reports of a dozen dead shore birds really doesn't cause the tears to well up.

500 dead shore birds is what was reported today.

60,000 galons of this stuff, (If I'm remembering right) I'd over-react too.

Alex · 11-13-2007, 10:52 AM

Still isn't all that many (a dozen is what they were saying on the news last night). A spill in the Baltic over the weekend has already killed more than 10,000. I'm not saying it shouldn't be cleaned up just that this isn't a huge horrible emergency requiring a complete rehaul of our policies and infrastructure.

Snowflake · 11-13-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Still isn't all that many (a dozen is what they were saying on the news last night). A spill in the Baltic over the weekend has already killed more than 10,000. I'm not saying it shouldn't be cleaned up just that this isn't a huge horrible emergency requiring a complete rehaul of our policies and infrastructure.

Aha, got it!

11-13-2007, 10:29 AM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	According to the pilot (remember, when in the bay the boat is driven by a local (theoretically) expert) they barely felt anything on the boat. The local NPR news did an amusing story on the volunteer clean up effort. They were explicit about it but I'm pretty sure they were trying to convey just how stupid the volunteering hoops are. Before they could do cleanup on Ocean Beach, the volunteers first had to sit through a 4 hours training session. Then they were given white hazmat suits, masks, and double gloves. Then they went down to the beach to clean up where they were surrounded by tourists and surfers playing in the water. All of this hassle because touching the oil might cause mild skin irritation. This is a big mistake and a problem, but personally I think the local media is way overreacting. I'm sorry but reports of a dozen dead shore birds really doesn't cause the tears to well up.
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11-13-2007, 10:52 AM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Still isn't all that many (a dozen is what they were saying on the news last night). A spill in the Baltic over the weekend has already killed more than 10,000. I'm not saying it shouldn't be cleaned up just that this isn't a huge horrible emergency requiring a complete rehaul of our policies and infrastructure.
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