CRESCENT CITY TSUNAMI OPERATIONS CENTER NEWS RELEASE
Date: April 3, 2011 Time: 1330
Media Contacts:
Alexia Retallack, California Dept. of Fish and Game, (916) 952-3317
Kevin Metcalf, U.S. Coast Guard, (281) 851-4546
Location: Crescent City Inner Basin Harbor, Crescent City, California
Cause: Tsunami following 9.0 earthquake in Japan (March 11)
Further updates will be issued on a periodic basis as operations warrant.
Operational Update:
- Boom placed across the Elk River has been removed. Two lengths of boom, totally almost 300 feet had been set in the Elk River as to protect sensitive habitat in the area. The boom was inspected before it was pulled, no petroleum products were found.
- Six sunken vessels that posed a pollution threat have been extracted from the harbor. High winds have affected the operational pace, as the crane cannot operate in winds of 25 mph or more.
- The crane removed a total of 13 pilings that impeded access to the remaining several sunken vessels in inner harbor that pose a pollution threat. A total of 16 pilings will be removed.
- As part of the removal process, the depth and GPS (global positioning system) location for each removed piling are recorded for use by the harbor during dredging and rebuilding.
- Cleanup crews have removed approximately 1,441 gallons of petroleum products from damaged vessels and 1,560 cubic yards of debris from the inner boat basin. A total of 1,300 feet of containment boom has been deployed.
- The Unified Command's primary goal is to complete pollution mitigation operations as quickly and safely as possible so Crescent City can begin restoring its harbor.
- The current federal project ceiling from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is $2.75 million for pollution mitigation at the Crescent City Harbor. The project budget can be adjusted as needed.
- The Unified Command is working with more than a dozen local businesses, including commercial divers, restaurants and hotels, and remains committed to using local resources whenever possible.
- There are 47 personnel participating in the response effort. This includes USCG, DFG and contractors.
- Commercial fishermen with questions about their permits and fees should call the Department of Fish and Game’s License and Revenue Branch at 916-928-7470.
Closures or restrictions:
- During crane operations, access will be limited to portions of “A” dock as a safety precaution.
- Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., C, D, E, and F docks are open to owners of vessels within the boomed off area. Vessel owners should contact Coast Guard Auxiliary members at the Harbor Office to schedule vessel access. For emergencies only, owners wishing to access their vessels outside of that time frame may contact the Coast Guard. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Personal flotation devices are required on all docks.
- Harbor is closed to the public at night, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., until further notice.
- Safety zone is in place for the inner boat basin only. The harbor is now open to vessel traffic.
Harbor operations:
Crescent City Harbor asks affected boat owners to contact the harbor at 707-464-6174 ext. 22 to provide the following information: Boat name, official number/VIN, fuel capacity, actual fuel onboard, and contact information.
Wildlife: There have been no reports of oiled wildlife. Monitoring is ongoing.
Crews deployed: U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), Harbor District personnel and oil spill response organizations.
Information numbers:
Crescent City Harbormaster’s Office: 707-464-6174 ext. 22
Report oil: 1-800-852-7550
Report injured wildlife: 1-877-823-6926
DFG’s License and Revenue Branch: 916-928-7470
Media Alert: Media interested in viewing operations should coordinate access with the Joint Information Center at (281) 851-4546. Safety procedures will be strictly enforced, so media personnel are encouraged to bring U.S. Coast Guard-certified lifejackets and hard hats, which are required to enter the operational area. The Crescent City Tsunami Responders have limited safety gear to offer interested attendees.
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