Comment Log Display

Clerk- Air Resources Board                                         
                                  
1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
http://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/comm/bclist.php 

There is a service boat that takes workers to the oil islands from
the Seal Beach pier daily. 

The boat that transports workers and  equipment to the oil
platform, usually the “Capt T Li”  exudes an inordinate amount of
diesel smoke and I was told that starting in 2009 there were
restrictions going into force that would require more efficient
engines.  

The noxious fumes are “re-directed” by a consistent breeze that
pushes the fumes on shore. The boat takes on passengers from the
pier about 500 feet from the sand and the homes and the people on
the beach.   

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the boat(s) do not
tie-off on the pier and idle while loading.  They continue to run
the engines to control their position which is in the surf line and
therefore requires quite a bit of acceleration to keep the boat
close to the pier.  The racing engine, of course, belches more
fumes than an idling engine would. It is not a quick stop and go
arrangement.  The boat goes back and forth for anywhere from 5
minutes to as much as one half an hour.
(Admittedly 30 minutes is unusual but I’ve timed it and it does
occur.) 

There is a children’s play area DIRECTLY in the line of the path
of the fumes. There are also apartments approximately 200 yards
away.  I mention apartments because apartment dwellers are not as
likely as homeowners to complain.  

I cannot rate the various problems as to which is worst, however,
here are some that I can tell you about:

1-Boat does not tie-up to the pier dock so it never shuts off.  
It could tie-off if it accepted responsibility for any        
damage it did to the pier.  Not an unusual request for boats using
public piers. In weather it deems too rough, the  boat
goes to a sheltered pier in Long Beach to pick up its passengers.

2-Those living near the pier get the fumes 24/7...so since diesel
fumes damages are cumulative they are suffering
greatest damage.

3-Toddlers playground is second only to pedestrians on the pier in
their exposure.   

4-Because it is “idling” at the surf line the idle is usually very
strong.  It has to be because the surf  catches the boat 
and it could easily ground on bottom.  Obviously when the engine
revolutions shoot up...so do the diesel fumes.  

5-Sometimes it runs for up to 20 minutes or more.  The boat may
make as many as 30 or 40 trips a day.  Maybe more? 
(See attached link for local story and photos.)  Photos are not
enhanced.  In fact they do not project the fumes as
strongly as the naked eye sees them. 
                       
http://www.whatsupinsealbeach.com/category/local_news/page/2/

6-Fishermen and people walking the pier face closer exposure but
if the wind is in the opposite direction they are not so exposed as
the beach goers.  The prevailing winds are on shore.
 
7-The city gets about $25,000 revenue for allowing the boat to use
the pier and an additional $25,000 for other
services it provides and looks on the boat company as a “very good
tenant”; however, I doubt that the people
making the  decisions live in the path of the diesel smoke. 

8-As you may be aware the city of Seal Beach started repairs on
the pier a few years ago without gaining approval from
the  Coastal Commission and the CCC stopped the work. It makes one
wonder if the City needs similar permission to       authorize the
operation of the boats and did it get it ?  

Additionally, there is a loading dock on the pier that could be
used.  In other communities with piers such craft as might use the
dock have provided the city with guarantees to
repair any damage done by their boat.  Such an arrangement would
greatly reduce the problems created by the “Capt. T Li.”     

 I appreciate your reading this letter and look forward to any
help or directions you can give.

Sincerely,

Bill Halpin
562-244-1116
whalpin@adbrokerz.com