California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Graphic California map showing the locations of Apex Houston A common murre
 

Apex Houston Oil Spill

  • LOCATION: Offshore Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties.
  • DATE: January 28, 1986 to February 4, 1986
  • INCIDENT SUMMARY: The tank barge Apex Houston lost a hatch cover while being towed from the Shell Oil refinery in Martinez to Long Beach, spilling an estimated 25,800 gallons of crude oil.
  • RESPONSIBLE PARTY: E.A. Viner International Co., Inc.
  • NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEES: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Fish and WildlifeService, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • RESOURCES IMPACTED: Birds (8,978 estimated killed, including 6,287 Common Murres)
  • SETTLEMENT DETAILS: The trustees settled the case for $5.4 million. $4.9 million was allocated to Common Murre recolonization, while $500,000 was allocated to acquisition of old growth redwoods for protection of Marbled Murrelets.
  • STATUS OF RESTORATION: Restoration projects completed.

Available Documents

External Links

Contact Information

Steve Hampton
Email: Steve.Hampton@wildlife.ca.gov
Phone: (916)-323-4724

Page Last Updated: December 10, 2012