Placing Blame for Oil Spills

I would like to respond to your excellent reports regarding the oil spill off Huntington Beach.

Having a small business in the area, the city forced me, like other small businesses in the area, to replace my single-wall oil drain tank. This tank, which is in very good condition, holds 300 gallons of oil. The new tank, which has sophisticated dual-walls, holds the same amount of oil and costs approximately $1,500.

These precautions are necessary, but it seems that small businesses are singled out instead of large corporations such as Shell, Exxon and British Petroleum for these improvements.

It should be mandatory that all tankers be equipped with dual-steel plates instead of the paper-thin walls that most have.

It is a shame that our politicians are so easy to corrupt. They are the ones to blame for the oil spills here in Huntington Beach and in Alaska, not to mention the million gallons of raw sewage that have been spilled into the ocean around Laguna Beach and the Santa Monica Bay.

Unfortunately, the environment problems in Southern California, and in general, have received a very casual response from the local and state politicians.

Most people seem to just accept the fact that millions of gallons of raw sewage have spilled into San Diego’s beautiful Mission Bay, and also around Laguna Beach and Santa Monica.

Unless the EPA mandates strong penalties and jail terms for offenders, this problem will not be resolved.

It would be a very effective step in the right direction to incarcerate the mayors of San Diego and Los Angeles, the former mayor of Laguna Beach, and some top executives from Exxon and BP for commiting environmental crimes, not to mention crimes against the people of California.

To impose a monetary fine on these people would not be just punishment for the damage they have done.

HEINZ WOLMERATH

Westminster