CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : COSTA MESA : Teams Planned to Clean Up Oil Spills

The California Conservation Corps plans to set up two permanent strike teams of 100 members each--one in Southern California and one in Northern California--to help clean up oil spills. The teams, which are expected to be fully trained and ready by next summer, will be the first full-time cleanup crews stationed on shore in the nation, state officials said. The teams will be funded by state money and oil company donations. BP America, a division of British Patroleum, which helped clean up an oil spill off the Orange County coastline in February, has donated $75,000. The Conservation Corps is a group of 2,000 men and women between 18 and 23 involved in natural resources work.