Date: April 6, 2011 Time: 1:15 p.m.
Media Contacts:
Erik Swanson, U.S. Coast Guard, (510) 289-5794
Carol Singleton, California Dept. of Fish and Game, (916) 539-6124
Crescent City Tsunami Response Update #24
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:
• Yesterday, crews raised the historic fishing vessel Kodiak and pumped off
water and 426 gallons of diesel fuel. Crews attempted to patch the Kodiak,
but the damage was too extensive to save the vessel.
• Today, crews will remove the remains of the vessel from the inner boat
basin and dispose of oily debris. A dive team will begin assessing the
remaining three sunken vessels to determine which to remove next.
• Cleanup crews have removed approximately 1,869 gallons of petroleum
products from damaged vessels and 1,660 cubic yards of debris from the
inner boat basin. A total of 1,500 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 40 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:
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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