Coast Guard Had Earlier Warning, of California Oil Spill, Report Suggests.
Fox News reports that the U.S. Coast Guard received
multiple warnings of a possible fuel spill off the coast of
California hours earlier than previously revealed. .
According to the Associated Press, records show that the Coast Guard was aware of the leak approximately 15 hours before its own personnel confirmed the oil spill. .
An Orange County Sheriff’s Department memo
reportedly shows that initial reports came in to
the Coast Guard at about 5:30 p.m. PT on October 1.
Fox News reports that the oil spill was not confirmed by authorities until around 9 a.m. PT on October 2.
Rear Adm. Brian Penoyer said that the Coast Guard
did not send a boat to search for the spill as a result
of both darkness and a lack of proper technology.
Penoyer also claimed the Coast Guard
put out a radio broadcast in an
attempt to confirm a possible spill.
However, according to Fox News,
Captain Rebecca Ore said
no broadcasts had been made.
The Coast Guard says that approximately
25,000 gallons of oil leaked near
the coast of Orange County.
The spill forced beach closures and
has killed dozens of birds so far.
Environmental advocates warn that the long-term consequences of the spill remain unknown.
On October 20, a group of organizations called
for the Biden administration to halt oil
and gas leases off the coast of California