SRF SMC SF Bay Oil Spill Cleanup

2007-11-20T22:28:00.000-08:00

San Francisco Bay as seen from Emerald Hills 11/14/07. Oakland is visible beyond the San Mateo Bridge.

2007-11-17T05:40:00.000-08:00

WHY CLEAN?

As noted in Neptune's Revenge:

When the slick starts to "weather" and break up, there is a general relief. People assume the threat is over, the oil gone. As it turns out, the reverse is true.

The oil exists, unseen, a portion of it more virulent than before, having become more toxic, carcinogenic and water-soluble while floating in the sun. It has oxidized, adding oxygen atoms to its hydrocarbons...

...[W]hen the oil slick disappears, it is... time to worry. Some of the altered oil sinks to the sea floor, where it is by no means less troublesome....

Oil kills on the bottom as on the beach. The population perishes or escapes, if it can crawl or swim away. Species which can survive such an oil bath move in. Like other opportunistic species, they are of a lower, tougher evolutionary order than the regular residents, less productive, less diverse. The oil sinks into the sediments where...it is likely to stay. Opportunists take over, moving evolution down a step, and the resident oil, oozing out of the sediments for years, keeps it that way.

EDUCATION

Thanks to the certification courses people know how to respond.

THANK YOU
SAN MATEO COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

2007-11-13T22:47:00.000-08:00

RESPONSE

To view 11/13/07 Tuesday Oil Spill Response Photographs see my picasa album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/steven.p.harman/SFBayAndGoldenGateOilSpillResponse

Local officials are working to include us in the cleanup effort.

In San Mateo County:

Oil Spill Cleanup Training

Call 738-7356 to register

Please spread the word

Oil has arrived in Pacifica. There is confirmed oil on Esplanade and Sharp Park Beaches. Not massive amounts, but enough to warrant cleanup.

Pacifica Emergency Services Oil Spill Response Volunteer Training will be held at the Pacifica Community Center on Crespi. The Response Team has requested that you call 738-7356 to register for this training. They can accomodate up to 150 volunteers who can show a level of commitment, so please spread the word.

You can also register with the San Mateo Emergency Services Alert to expedite notification in case of an all out clean up effort www.smcalert.info.

Please learn about the absorbent mats that can be used to clean up the oil spill.

We hope to see you at the Oil Spill Cleanup Volunteer Training.

2007-11-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

Working

See http://srfsmcsfoilspill.blogspot.com/