Berkeley, California (Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 4:15 p.m.) – Volunteers can get more HazMat training and equipment at another volunteer trainings set for Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Volunteers who are interested in helping to clean beaches and shoreline are encouraged attend a hazardous materials and physical danger training. No cleanup on the rocks is allowed.

The training classes is limited, so it’s first come, first serve.

WHO: 80 volunteers

WHAT: A training on the safe cleanup of oil spill residue

WHEN: Wednesday, November 14, 1 p.m. – 5 pm.

WHERE: Hs Lordships, in the Berkeley Marina off of Seawall Dr. (http://www.hslordships.com/directions.html)  

OR

WHEN: Saturday, November 17, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

WHERE: West Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 Sixth Street, Berkeley

More information will be posted  on the City of Berkeley’s website (www.CityofBerkeley.info) as soon as it is confirmed.

** The Cal State Department of Fish and Game is not providing any training for the handling of wildlife at this time. Training is only for cleaning the shoreline.**

Volunteers who got Monday’s training from California State Department of Fish and Game can come back all week and next weekend to help out. If you’re interested in volunteering, please call the Nature Center at  (510) 981-6720.

Other volunteers still needed! Volunteers who can’t do the training and just want to come down and help can call the Nature Center at 510-981-6720. If you get the voice mail, please leave your name, phone number and kind of volunteer work you’re interested in, and someone will call you back.

Berkeley Marina update:  Visitors to the Berkeley marina and waterfront are still prohibited from going within 50 feet of the shoreline until further notice. Swimming is discouraged, and fishing for human consumption is forbidden under an order issued by the Governor today.

Boat owners: The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing to advise boat owners to leave their boats in the water. In addition, the use of chemical solvents in the water is prohibited. Guidelines for boat cleaning will be issued from the Unified Command Center within the next couple of days (http://www.uscgsanfrancisco.com/go/site/823/). Boat owners can also call (866) 442-9650 to begin the claims process. If you’re a boat owner in Berkeley, you can also call the Marina office at (510) 981-6740.

Visit www.CityofBerkeley.info for more information.

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