This post has nothing to do with the Senate races I typically discuss. I admit that there are some things I take for granted. For instance, when there is a major earthquake, huge brush fire, devastating flood, or, let's say, giant oil spill, I just expect to, through osmosis, hear about it in a timely fashion. And this really shocked me when a friend passed this on days later about a giant oil spill this past Tuesday.
From up in Prince William Sound:
The captain of a fishing vessel that spilled more than 3,000 gallons of diesel into Prince William Sound after running aground initially refused to take drug and alcohol tests, Coast Guard officials said Tuesday.
Granted it's not an oil transport, but a fishing vessel that, after grounding, simply spilled 3,000 gallons into the Sound. Still pretty bad on the "unnecessary things we can avoid" scale."
More below the fold.
If that's not terrible enough, this breakdown of policy really frightens me:
By law a person cannot be physically required to take the tests under Coast Guard regulations, but his license can be revoked. The skipper, however, was not required to hold a license because he was operating in waters that are considered to be generally safe, Jones said. Jones would not immediately release the skipper's name.
Are they kidding? Somebody who grounded a ship and caused an oil spill can't be "required" to take the tests? And, beyond that, when operating in "safe" waters, they're not required to hold a license? Seriously?!
But they assure us that everything is OK:
The 127-foot vessel leaked up to 3,500 gallons of diesel after grounding on Saturday, causing officials to close down the pink salmon fishery in the sound. The slick spans several miles but has thinned considerably, said John Brown, an environmental program specialist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
No animal deaths or injuries have been reported in connection with the spill, Brown said.
I don't want to be alarmist, but if you typically enjoy Alaskan salmon, I'd keep an eye out for any filets that look a little oily, just in case.
What troubles me the most is that I heard nothing about this until a friend (in Alaska) sent me the link yesterday night. Should the news be covering this better? Did I just miss something? Am I overreacting? Have you heard about this?