Earlier today, California State Assemblyman Mark Leno participated in a volunteer-level beach clean-up along the shores of San Pablo Bay at China Camp State Park near San Rafael. 

“I share the sense of outrage and the call to action that this disaster has prompted throughout our region.  I also feel the frustration of so many people who want to volunteer their time and energy to the recovery and relief efforts,” declared Assemblyman Leno. 

The debris clean-up at China Camp was conducted in anticipation of oil-slicked waters reaching this area’s beaches in the near future and to make any subsequent oil clean-up easier.   

Unfortunately, the first oily water to reach China Camp’s shore was detected by Assemblyman Leno and his team while conducting their clean-up near the historic village.  The detection was reported to state park rangers who collected samples. 

“We know the bunker fuel is a hazardous material and clean up of already oil-coated beaches must be handled by trained professionals,” stated the Assemblyman.  “However, removing debris from beaches not yet impacted by the oil is one of the best ways to help according to biologists.” 

“There will be legislative hearings in the near future, and I will bring forward any legislation needed to ensure this can never happen again in California.  The most immediate thing we must do is work to minimize the on-going environmental degradation taking place in our precious Bay and Pacific Ocean,” concluded Assemblyman Leno.

On Friday morning, Assemblyman Leno and Governor Schwarzenegger received a briefing as to the spill and clean-up status by the U.S. Coast Guard and California Department of Fish and Game at the Incident Command Center.  Assemblyman Leno then received an aerial tour of the Bay and Pacific coastline to assess the scope of the incident at that point.  Immediately following the more than hour-long helicopter tour, the Assemblyman briefed reporters assembled at Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands. 

Yesterday, Assemblyman Leno participated in two briefings – one in San Francisco and one in Marin County – conducted by the California Department of Fish and Game’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response to receive further updates and to learn how to immediately help the situation. 

Treasure Island and the site of the Cosco Busan strike on the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge are located in the 13^th Assembly District represented by Assemblyman Mark Leno.