Political Quotes

“earlier this year I shared with my colleagues news on what has been identified as the worst oilspill in Rhode Island's history. That January spill was the genesis for the legislation that I am joining the Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. Chafee] in introducing today. As many of you may know from news accounts, the barge North Cape, carrying a cargo of about 4 million gallons of heating oil, and the tug Scandia grounded off the southern Rhode Island coast. The grounding followed a fire that broke out on the tug, later engulfed the vessel and required the subsequent last-minute evacuation of the captain and crew by the U.S. Coast Guard. That evacuation was successful because of the enormous courage and skill of the Coast Guard rescue team, who did not hesitate to put themselves at great personal risk to rescue the captain and crew. It was under extraordinarily difficult winter storm conditions that the Coast Guard effected the rescue and attempted, unsuccessfully, to prevent the barge and burning tug from running aground. The barge, dragging the burning tug, grounded in shallow water off Matunuck Point Beach, near Point Judith. Pounded by strong winds and high seas, the 340-foot, single-hull barge began to spill oil from holes in at least two places.”