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UPDATE: Coast Guard, partner agencies prepare for pollution removal of capsized vessel near Bethel Island

September 28, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Army Corps of Engineers, and other partner agencies are preparing Tuesday to remove a capsized vessel near Bethel Island.

The operations for the Spirit of Sacramento are scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon with an approximate duration of 24 hours. The salvage operation would involve rotating the vessel via a crane mounted atop a barge and raising the vessel for dewatering.

Once the Spirit of Sacramento has been dewatered, it is scheduled to be towed to the Army Corps of Engineers facility in Sausalito where oil and fuel are scheduled to be removed.

Before operations begin, approximately 3,000 feet of oil containment boom is to be placed in the water surrounding the vessel so that in the event of oil or fuel entering the water during operations, it could be contained and retrieved by crews standing by with skimming equipment. Boom will also be placed in predetermined areas to protect wildlife and sensitive areas.

The waterway surrounding the Spirit of Sacramento is scheduled to be closed beginning Wednesday morning and end once operations have concluded. For more information on the public notice establishing the waterway closure, click here.

Editor's note: A boat will be available for media interested in getting underway to observe the operation. Media interested should contact Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam Stanton at 510-772-8865, as space is limited to two spots. Media should arrive at Sugar Barge RV Resort and Marina at 1440 Sugar Barge Rd, Bethel Island, CA 94511 by 2 p.m. A spokesperson from the Coast Guard will be available for interviews. If there are more media than spots available, media representatives on scene will be asked to form a media pool. The Department of Fish and Wildlife requests that media use the prescribed staging area at Sugar Barge RV Resort and Marina and refrain from driving on any levees to mitigate impacts to endangered species.

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