SFist: UPDATED: Cosco Bucan Oil Spill: How You Can Help

suckafree

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:01:27 -0800

the volunteer line from uc davis called us back about 9pm. they said the beach cleanup will require 40 hours of haz mat training so they are using contractors. we are going to cordelia to volunteer on monday. they want 4 hour shifts. you'll be cleaning cages, making cages, cutting up food for the critters or whatever else they ask you to do.

suckafree

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:08:31 -0800

we almost got arrested at chrissy field. don't go there. the feds are being pretty strict about letting anyone on the sand. we were prepared and picked up about 100 globules of oil balls. someone called in and reported us so the ranger came after us pretty quick. sucks, since we could have found more. if you do go, wear old clothes you could toss, including shoes, and kitchen cleaning gloves to protect you. bring a hefty bag to toss the sand laden balls of oil you find. they are nasty and stick to everything immediately. they moved the command center from fort point to fort mason. we went by and got a bit of a briefing from one of the rangers. don't go though, you'll just be in the way. the ranger agreed that folks that use common sense can help but they are worried about the rest that would not. they fear folks will show up in flip flops and bare handed, then sue for getting sick. lame! we'll try to help at ocean beach tomorrow instead. don't expect any calls for help on the beach until after they have skimmed as much as possible and the rest washes up on shores. again, lame!

jameth

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:24:10 -0800

cleanup at ocean beach is underway. the entire place smells like fuel. enjoy. I couldn't handle it after about an hour. I am a wuss.

mpantone

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:55:26 -0800

Byron & Kathleen (the aforementioned grassroots effort headquartered at Sports Basement Presidio) led a cleanup effort at Baker Beach earlier today that apparently went well (http://www.zunasurf.com/oilspill/update). There is a cleanup happening RIGHT NOW (FRI, 2:30-DUSK) AT OCEAN BEACH (NORIEGA & GREAT HWY) according to ZunaSurf. They are training volunteers on cleanup procedures & safety using the oil absorption materials provided by the City/County.

suckafree

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:36:00 -0800

meet us at chrissy field in 20 kitchen cleaning gloves, old clothes and garbage bags in hand

suckafree

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:30:52 -0800

thanks pantone. that's all i needed to hear. great article in the chronicle today: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/09/MNIOT9411.DTL

mpantone

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:18:10 -0800

You guys aren't clicking through the posted links and reading what's there (and mattymatt isn't even reading his own post). The official stance is that anyone can help by: A.) going to the beach and looking for oiled wildlife and B.) phoning it in: 1-877-823-6926 (hopefully with GPS coordinates). At least one page says that if you have gloves and a cardboard box, you have the same tools that the professional bird recovery folks have. Of course, they can't legally recommend people to recover oiled birds, but there are already plenty of pictures showing civilians doing so. The Surfrider SF page says volunteers should go to the Fort Point Command Center. There is also at least one unofficial, grassroots cleanup group operating out of Sports Basement Presidio; the Department of the Environment for the City & County of San Francisco has issued oil absorption cloths to this group and basic oil cleanup training is being provided.

mattymatt

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:14:02 -0800

Ha ha! I just copied and pasted the headline from the last post. I stand by all our misspellings, intentional and otherwise.

KWillets

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:12:21 -0800

Is this the second post in a row where they've misspelled Busan?

suckafree

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:06:43 -0800

i called sports basement/predidio and they said no cleanup is being organized there. lots of people were in their parking lot earlier today but they are all gone.

mattymatt

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:02:50 -0800

All signs point to no: don't go to the beach to help unless you have training. The chemicals are very toxic. It would be nice if beach-cleanup training was available -- no word yet on whether that's going to happen. UPDATE: Oh, der, never mind -- the comment right above mine has a link to all the details about upcoming training. http://www.zunasurf.com/oilspill/

suckafree

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:56:58 -0800

what's the latest? can we still go to chrissy to help clean up? i presumed the feds would turn us away all this time!!! :(

mattymatt

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:44:46 -0800

In other words: Sometimes, when someone disagrees with you, it doesn't necessarily mean that that individual is a fundamentally unreasonable person. Rave?

mpantone

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:41:04 -0800

ZunaSurf has a page on the oil spill: http://www.zunasurf.com/oilspill/ It sounds like bird rescue efforts are top priority right now, to be followed by an oil globule cleanup phase. Old shoes, old clothes, dishwashing gloves, and kitty litter scoopers are recommended for beach cleanup volunteers. Boxes can be used to transport injured birds. I would not be surprised if there was another meeting at Sports Basement Presidio tomorrow (Sat) much like today (I couldn't make it). Apparently, volunteers can show up at the Fort Point Command Center too.

marke b

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:29:05 -0800

Wait a minute! mattymatt posted this? Shouldn't he be ranting about blanket immunity for the shipping corporation and how ugly all that stupid wild life that keeps developers from building million-dollar condos on Alcatraz is? Where, oh where has our naive gay rave libertarian gone? He wants the evil government to help? Shouldn't we just privatize the cleanup? I guess reality really is real ... ps -- yeah, I haven't been able to get through to any of the above either ... but I'm emailing Arnold as we speak

Leanne

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:09:52 -0800

It looks like the SF Surfrider people will still be going out to Ocean Beach on Sunday morning at 10 a.m. for their weekly clean-up (meet-up at Lincoln St): "Extended oil spill cleanup activities MAY occur at this cleanup, if legal and necessary."

jameth

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:56:15 -0800

Baykeeper is not replying either. I'm assuming they're overwhelemed as well. OWCN rang busy for about 30 minutes until I gave up. I'm on hold with the Governor's office to voice my opinion on a "hot issue" to OMG SEIZE THE BOAT! Yay! Anyone up for a beach party and has hazmat gear available? I am size M but could probably fit into a S or L if available.

Leanne

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:41:30 -0800

Argh, the OWCN's hotline has had a constant busy signal. It sounds like lots of people are eager to volunteer though, which is great.