Six Cosco Busan Crewmembers Still Held One Year Later

Tomorrow marks the one year-anniversary of the Cosco Busan oil spill, which released 53,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel into San Francisco Bay. (Click here for a slideshow of the accident)

An Associated Press article this morning details that six Chinese sailors are still being held as material witnesses. Two of the six have admitted to forging documents after the 900-foot cargo ship slammed into one of the Bay Bridge's support columns.

Do not worry, this isn't Guantanamo West; the six Chinese nationals are detained but free to travel about the city. The AP article adds:

Living rent-free in apartments and hotels, they are permitted to roam San Francisco and the surrounding area. They continue to draw their salaries, and each also receives $1,200 per month in witness fees, more than the monthly salary of at least one detained seaman.

Also, San Francisco Chronicle environmental reporter Jane Kay provides an interesting piece in today's paper illustrating the damage done to the bay's ecosystem and how it has improved.

On Nov. 7, The Commonwealth Club will host, "One Year After the Oil Spill: What Has Changed?" featuring California State Assemblyman Jared Huffman, Baykeeper and Program Director Sejal Choksi, Manager of Emergency Services, Marin County Sheriff Office of Emergency Services Chris Godley and moderated by David Lewis, Executive Director, Save the Bay.