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Freeway Traffic Might Be Light, But Our Coastline Is A Different Story
Is there a Sig Alert at sea? Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
We land lovers might be finding what little joy we can from Southern California's clear freeways and clearer skies, but there is one traffic jam forming right now, just a bit west of Pacific Coast Highway.
As of Thursday afternoon, 27 oil tankers were lined up in our coastal waters, carrying crude oil nobody needs right now, because of a worldwide oil glut and (you guessed it) coronavirus.
This video from the U.S. Coast Guard shows what it looks like:
The #USCG is closely monitoring the increased presence of tanker vessels anchored off the coast of Southern California. pic.twitter.com/i6HuX6wxgn
— USCG Los Angeles (@USCGLosAngeles) April 24, 2020
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"Due to the unique nature of this situation, the Coast Guard is constantly evaluating and adapting our procedures to ensure the safety of the vessels at anchor and the protection of the surrounding environment," Cmdr. Marshall Newberry from the USGS' Los Angeles/Long Beach Sector said in a press release.
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Your support for independent local news is critical. With federal funding for public media gone, LAist faces a $1.7 million yearly shortfall. Speaking frankly, how much reader support we receive now will determine the strength of this reliable source of local information now and for years to come.
This work is only possible with community support. Every investigation, service guide, and story is made possible by people like you who believe that local news is a public good and that everyone deserves access to trustworthy local information.
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