Since I last emailed you about the oil spill in the San Francisco Bay, thousands of volunteers and the staffs of many agencies have worked to lessen the impact of this disaster.  Their actions have made such an important difference, and I commend every one of them.  But, sadly, there are still serious impacts: three marine sanctuaries have been damaged by the oil spill; more than 2,400 birds have been recovered - over 1,300 which have died, with hundreds more being treated for oil exposure; beaches continue to see oil and tar balls wash ashore; and the fishing has been suspended in areas that have been affected by the oil spill, including the Dungeness crab fishery.

The House of Representatives recently held a hearing on the oil spill, following the briefing that I held in Washington.  I am proving my statement, which outlines many of the still unanswered questions.  You can view my statement using the link at the right.  I also encourage you to visit my Senate website, where you will find more information about the oil spill and my work to respond to it.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator