San Pedro firm steps forward in diesel fuel spill at L.A. port

San Pedro firm steps forward in diesel fuel spill at L.A. port    The Jankovich Co., a San Pedro, Calif.-based fuel and lubricant distributor, Tuesday assumed financial responsibility for a mystery fuel spill at the Port of Los Angeles Thursday night.
   Under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, assuming financial responsibility is not an admission of fault. The actual source and cause of the fuel spill remains under investigation.
   The Los Angeles-Long Beach Coast Guard station received the report of a diesel sheen at berth 240 in the Port of Los Angeles' Cerritos Channel late Thursday night. The Coast Guard immediately responded to the location, however, the initial investigation did not reveal a source or responsible party.
   The U.S. Coast Guard, along with agents of the California Department of Fish and Game, Office of Spill Prevention and Response, launched an investigation into the cause and effect of the spill.
   The agencies estimate that 210 gallons of the red-dyed diesel fuel were released into the water. The Coast Guard accessed the Federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and hired Santa Clarita-based Patriot Environmental Services to begin an estimated $50,000 clean-up operation.
   Fish and Game OSPR monitoring of the area has not revealed any environmental impact to fish and wildlife.
   The clean up is expected to be completed by Wednesday afternoon.