6 minute read
News Briefs
WORLD NEWS news briefs
By Jordan B. Darling
LOCAL Newport Beach Debuts New Wildland Fire Engine
NEWPORT BEACH— The Newport Beach Fire Department has introduced a new fire engine equipped with improved off-road capabilities to fight wildland fires. The new engine was on display for the community at Newport Coast Fire Station 8, where the engine is housed, on June 4. The engine will be used primarily for the Newport Coast area but will be deployed to assist other cities as needed. “This specialized piece of equipment will improve our wildland firefighting capabilities by allowing our firefighters to navigate challenging terrain and off-road areas that are inaccessible to standard engines,” said Fire Chief Jeff Boyles in a press release from Newport Beach. The engine was built by Pierce Manufacturing and has a shorter wheelbase and four-wheel drive capabilities to allow for better maneuverability, off-road versatility, and higher ground clearance. In addition, the engine carries 500 gallons of water and can pump water while moving, which allows for rapid water application in more remote areas. The city started the project in 2019, but due to complications from COVID-19, the project took two years to complete. NBFD crews are undergoing additional training with the new engine before it will be placed in service.
OCEANSIDE— On June 13, the city of Oceanside launched an electric vehicle shuttle pilot program in Downtown Oceanside. The “gO’sde” is a five-passenger electric shuttle that will run from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. The shuttles can be scheduled through the “Ride Circuit” smartphone app by choosing Oceanside, or passengers can flag down the shuttle in an area where it is safe to stop. The service is currently free, with a potential fare to be instated later on. “We are so excited to launch this pilot program, which will provide Oceanside residents, visitors, and downtown workers a safe, efficient transportation option to get around our downtown this summer,” said Mayor Esther Sanchez in a press release from the city. “Not only will gO’side help to mitigate parking and traffic congestion; it’s also really fun to ride!” The service area covers from Oceanside Harbor south to Vista Way west of Interstate 5. The program is scheduled to run through November 2022. For more information, see http:// www.ridegoside.com/.
Settlement Reached in Illegal Disposal Near Ventura Harbor
VENTURA— On June 13, Ventura District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Ocean Angel II, LLC entered into a settlement after they were observed dumping toxic substances into state waters. On Dec. 3, 2021, the commercial fishing vessel was spotted dumping squid wastewater, which is harmful to aquatic life due to its high concentration of ammonia, by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife while traveling outside of Ventura Harbor. Under the settlement, the commercial vessel will pay $8,000 in civil penalties to the CDFW and $8,000 to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for civil penalties and investigative costs. The settlement also requires compliance with applicable laws related to California Fish and Game Code section 5650, which prohibits the deposit of harmful substances into state waters. “Safe and clean waterways are crucial to the health of marine wildlife,” said Nasarenko in a June 13 press release from the district attorney’s office. “It is important to hold those accountable for not following the law and placing our local wildlife at risk.” The investigation was a joint effort between the CDFW and the District Attorney’s Office Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit.
STATE/NATIONAL/WORLD Hawaii’s Board of Land and Natural Resources Designates Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area
HONOLULU— On June 9, the State Board of Land and Natural Resources adopted Hawai’i Administrative Rules to designate the Miloli’i Community Based Subsistence Fishing Area on Hawai’i Island. The board is looking to ensure abundant stocks of priority species and high-quality fishing for residents and tourists visiting Miloli’i. In addition, the designation is meant to emphasize traditional fishing practices for Native Hawaiian subsistence, culture, or religion along the southwest coast of Hawai’i. “The Miloliʻi CBSFA is an excellent example of the interweaving of traditional and modern scientific knowledge and improving DLNR’s and the community’s capacity to co-manage the State’s public trust resources,” said Division of Aquatic Resources Administrator Brian Neilson in a testimony before the land board.
The CBSFA rules include: Size and/or bag limits for p ku‘iku‘I, kole, uhu, opihi, and ula Seasonal restrictions for kole, ‘ pelu, ‘ ‘ , and uhu No take of terminal males (blue) of the larger uhu species No take of female ‘a‘ama with eggs No take of ‘opihi k ‘ele No commercial aquarium fishing Specific gear and species restrictions within several sub-areas within the broader CBSFA boundary
Billed as “The Last Fishing Village in Hawai‘I,” the coastal areas surrounding Miloli‘i are one of the last pockets in the state where traditional Hawaiian fishing practices have been preserved and are still practiced today. The official designation is still waiting on Gov. David Ige’s signature.
US Sailing Announces 2022 Reach Youth Engagement Grant Recipients
US Sailing has awarded grants to non-profit sailing centers across the county to grow their youth sailing through STEM and environmental education. The grants are from the US Sailing Reach Initiative, which utilizes sailing as an educational platform, challenging youth to embrace education, establish a love of learning, and explore productive STEM-based careers. By providing youth access to educators, sailing instructors, engineers, and scientists, Reach looks to provide one-of-a-kind learning opportunities. Centers that received the 2022 grant include GORGE Junior Sailing in Hood River, Oregon, a junior sailing group dedicated to promoting interest in the sport of sailing within the community. GJS will use the grants to support 20 students from Hood River New School in a Reach spring elective. Another west coast recipient is Sail Orcas, based in Eastsound, Washington. The group is a volunteer-run non-profit public charity that offers a Marine Science and Sailing Camp and a Recycle Regatta each year. This year they are growing their camp with additional materials and scientific tools to increase the impact on their participants and support them in developing a stronger sense of environmental stewardship. These grants were made possible by support from Rolex and US Sailing donors. For more information, see https://www. ussailing.org/education/youth/reach/.
Comments
From page 4
active-duty CG officers and petty officers (see 14 USC 522 as the primary CG law enforcement authority). The extension of CGAUX’s roles as cited by the author (33 CFR 5.31) has not included any direct law enforcement authority. It is highly likely that such an extension would not be legally sustainable. However, the CGAUX may assist active-duty CG operations by (1) providing a platform (i.e., vessel) for a CG officer/petty officer to operate from or (2) assist in the manning of a CG vessel engaged in law enforcement operations. A CGAUX patrol vessel that does not have an active-duty CG boarding officer onboard may not order another vessel to stop and submit to any inspection. The CGAUX does provide COURTESY safety inspections with the consent of a vessel operator. That may be what the original question referred to. In such a case one is free to accept the inspection or refuse (so long as it is solely the CGAUX who is asking and not the CG!). A good explanation of the CGAUX’s roles, missions, and authorities (and limitations) can be found here: https://cgaux.org —Peter
