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.
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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.
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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