By CSLEA Member Services Representative Jim Laughlin

HERCULES –  On October 11, 2017, California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) Member Services Representative Jim Laughlin conducted a membership outreach event with marine safety specialists with the Marine Environmental Protection Division of the California State Lands Commission.

These CSLEA members are the thin line protecting California from potential environmental catastrophes.  Marine safety specialist are highly qualified and have some of the strictest background qualifications in state service.

The mission of marine safety specialists is three-fold.

• First is the oversight of Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standards (MOTEMS).  Approximately two million barrels of petroleum products are transferred between ship to shore daily.
• Second is the enforcement of the Marine Invasive Species Program.  These cases involve the illegal dumping of contaminated ship ballast water and can result in fines in excess of $200,000.00 per incident.
• Lastly is Oil Spill Prevention in the marine environment.

CSLEA would like to thank these dedicated guardians of the California marine environment for their service and for meeting with CSLEA.