The Cosco Busan Oil Spill--Finding Answers

Last weekend, I flew to San Francisco to get a first-hand look at the Coast Guard’s response and the ongoing cleanup of a 58,000-gallon fuel oil spill in the Bay. I met with local and state officials, received a briefing from the Unified Command, and conducted an overflight of the area to assess the damage and cleanup operations. Every place I went, I witnessed overwhelming unity and support from Bay area residents. They are a dedicated and compassionate people who care deeply about their community. We owe them a great debt of gratitude for their help in responding to this preventable incident.

What happened: On November 7th, the 900-foot container ship Cosco Busan with a full crew and San Francisco Bar pilot aboard struck the tower supporting the western span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in a heavy fog. The allision resulted in a 200 foot long tear to the port side of the ship that ripped open several fuel tanks. Members of Coast Guard Sector San Francisco responded to initial reports to assess the damage and begin coordinating cleanup operations. Coast Guard pollution investigators were on scene within an hour of initial notification. A Unified Command comprised of the Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Game, and a contractor hired to represent the ship’s owner, was established to coordinate and manage the oil spill cleanup operations in accordance with the National Response Plan and the local Area Contingency Plan.

What We’re Doing: As of Friday, more than 1,000 people have been assigned to the cleanup operation and approximately 16,000 gallons of oil has been recovered from the water and surrounding shoreline. Six shoreline assessment teams have been deployed in support of 16 cleanup teams working on more than 27 beaches in five counties. More than 20,000 feet of protective boom has been put in place to protect sensitive areas and reduce the spread of any remaining oil on the surface. Regrettably, more than 800 oiled birds have died, while 800 more have been captured for rehabilitation. Most of the observable oil on the surface of the waters has been recovered, and cleanup crews are now focusing their efforts on cleaning shoreline beaches.

The National Transportation Safety Board initiated an investigation into the allision. They will examine the performance of the master, pilot and crew, as well as the operation and maintenance of equipment and navigation systems. In addition, a Coast Guard marine casualty investigation for the purpose of taking appropriate measures for promoting safety of life and property at sea has begun.

What I’m Doing: While these investigations are ongoing and all of the facts have not yet been determined, it is clear that there was some miscommunication in the first day after the allision occurred as the Unified Command struggled to determine the actual amount of oil spilled into the Bay. Many have criticized the delay in reporting of the actual amount of fuel spilled. Everyone potentially impacted by this environmental crisis, from the fishermen, to the families in the Bay area, to the environmental preservationists who enjoy and rely on the Bay, deserve to know what happened. I understand their concerns and frustration and am committed to getting answers.

That is why I directed the Coast Guard Chief of Staff to initiate an Incident Specific Preparedness Review (ISPR). It will examine the implementation and effectiveness of the Area Contingency Plan and its integration with other applicable contingency plans at the federal, state, and local levels. The review will also carefully evaluate the effectiveness of the Coast Guard’s oil spill response and communications efforts, as well as the overall preparedness system. The Incident Specific Preparedness Review includes membership of federal, local, state, and industry stakeholders. The ISPR will inform actions by the Coast Guard and others to produce positive, effective preparedness improvements that will benefit the San Francisco Bay region, as well as other regions of the country.

Members of the Cosco Busan Incident Specific Preparedness Review will include representatives from:

• The City of San Francisco
• The State of California
• Pacific States - British Columbia Oil Spill Task Force
• Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• U.S. Coast Guard (Chairman)
• An appropriate member of a broadly representative environmental coalition

The members will provide my Chief of Staff with an initial report within 90 days. I am committed to ensuring this review is done in the most timely and transparent manner possible and will make it available to the public upon its completion. The results of the review will also be made available to the NTSB, marine casualty investigators, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for San Francisco in support of any ongoing or potential investigations.

I consider it my duty and a personal responsibility to the people of the San Francisco Bay Area, the State of California, and our own people to conduct a comprehensive, high level assessment of our performance in the critical hours after the Cosco Busan spilled thousands of gallons of oil into the Bay. While we would not normally initiate an Incident Specific Preparedness Review during the course of an ongoing cleanup operation, I have determined that due to the severity of this incident and the potential benefits in identifying areas to improve response coordination and communication in the future, it is imperative that we get this review underway as quickly as possible. This action underscores the commitment I have made to Secretary Chertoff, Governor Schwarzenegger and our Congressional leadership. We will not rest until we know what happened, why it happened, and what we can do to improve preparedness and response in the future.

Admiral Thad W. Allen
Commandant U.S. Coast Guard