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Seventy-nine volunteers from across the East Bay underwent four hours of training on cleaning hazardous oil spills from the shoreline by the City of Berkeley and the East Bay Regional Park District at the Berkeley Marina Monday. 

State and local agencies are working to rescue oiled birds and clean up the oil spills along the East Bay shoreline after the Cosco Busan crashed into the Bay Bridge and spilled 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel in the bay Wednesday. 

Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz issued a proclamation on Sunday restricting access to all Berkeley waterfront areas until further notice. Visitors are being asked to stay 50 feet away from the shoreline.  

“The first several days, we focused on bird rescue and containing the oil spill,” Kamlarz said in a statement Sunday. “Now that the weather is clear, it is time for trained HazMat experts to begin the cleanup of this toxic material. It is important that people continue to avoid the coastline while the water and shore are still contaminated.” 

The Marina—closed to boat traffic since Friday afternoon—has also set up a bird rescue station where oiled birds are being collected and sent for cleaning at the International Bird Rescue and Research Center in Cordelia. 

William Rogers, acting director for the Berkeley’s Parks, Waterfront and Recreation Department, said that residents and citizens are being asked not to approach birds but to report them by calling (415) 701-2311. 

“The incident command center picks up the calls and then sends trained folks to rescue the birds,” he said. 

Dressed in white suits, boots and gloves, volunteers used special equipment to pick up the oil and place it in special double-layered plastic bags. 

“We don’t want the oil to spread,” Rogers said. “It’s being collected in a special staging area.” 

A group was trained to rescue birds at the Marina on Sunday. 

“Berkeley has become one of the source points for birds from around the region,” said Rogers. Those interested in volunteering should call 981-6720. 

“They might not always be asked to rescue birds or clean the beaches,” he said. “But they can help with other things.” 

The Berkeley Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials team brought booms and other absorbent materials to the Marina to help clean up the water and shore. 

According to the East Bay Regional Park District, several hundred birds were rescued along the shoreline over the weekend. 

Mark Ragatz, shoreline unit manager for the East Bay Regional Park District, said that a command station had been set up at the Eastshore State Park to clean affected birds. 

“Since the oil is hazardous, we are asking people not to touch the birds without being trained,” he said. “We are bringing in teams from Louisiana, Texas and other places which deal with oil. It’s important people know how to catch the birds because if they go back into the water, they could die from hypothermia.” 

Ragatz added that although the spills had thinned with the outgoing tide, the heavy crude oil would clump up and stay in the environment for a long time. 

“It’s going to be a very long cleanup process,” he said. “I don’t know if you can fully clean up.” 

The park district has closed off water access to a number of parks in the East Bay including Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, a popular dog-walking area. It is assessing the damage along East Shore State Park, which was closed to the public on Monday and will likely stay closed for the next few days. 

“It was closed for bird rescue,” said Shelly Lewis, park district spokesperson. “We’ll be manning the park again today to assess the damage. Our decision to open the park will be announced on our website.” 

Dead birds were spotted at the Berkeley Marina and the Albany Bulb over the weekend. 

Councilmember Dona Spring said she was extremely concerned about the birds and wildlife affected by the spills. 

“I don’t know if the Coast Guard is making any trips down to the Berkeley shoreline,” she said. “I guess they are too busy dealing with the major oil spills. We are going to be billing the Coast Guard for any expenses that occur during the cleanup. We should all make it our top priority to go down there and volunteer.” 

Some environmentalists have said that winter was the worst time for an oil spill since the bay is full of ducks, grebes, pelicans, cormorants and other water birds. The surf scoters, a species of ducks whose population has declined, seem to be the hardest hit. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP 

The International Bird Rescue Research Center has advised residents and visitors against cleaning birds and says instead to call the organization’s hotline at (877) 823-6926. 

When attempting capture, the animals’ eyes should be covered with a blanket or towel and they should then be transported inside a secure and ventilated container.  

Rules to follow during rescue: 

• Keep the animal warm, 80-90 degrees.  

• Don’t feed it or give it fluids.  

• Keep it in a secure, dark container or kennel.  

• Stay quiet around it and don’t constantly look at the bird.  

• Get it to a rehabilitation hospital as quickly as possible.  

• Never keep the animal or try to treat it yourself. 

For more information visit: www.ibrrc.org/Cosco_Busan_spill_2007.html or www.uscgsanfrancisco.com/go/site/823 

• A bird-rescue center has been set up in the parking lot on the north side of University Avenue in Berkeley, opposite Shorebird Park, west of the Harbormaster's office. They do not need volunteers. However, you can take down the following: pens, paper bags (for dead birds), towels, AA batteries and food for people. 

• Baykeeper is requesting that the public sign up on www.baykeeper.org/news/oilspill.html to be contacted when there is further need for public involvement. 

Save the Bay is taking donations to support the cleanup effort: www.savesfbay.org. Contact Adrien Andre to designate your donation toward the oil spill cleanup, at 452-9261 x124 or adrien@savesfbay.org.