No Regrets about a massive Oxnard hazardous chemical spill

I thought California has a budget crisis and they have stripped and ravaged their state payrolls to a bare minimum. I was wrong.

(A)n Oxnard small-business owner finds himself in deep over a little spill that became a big production.

The incident started on an afternoon in late June when Steve Pettersen of No Regrets Painting upset a can of water-based paint inside his van, parked on a client's driveway at Mandalay Bay.... (Pettersen) was able to scoop up most of the contents of the toppled gallon and capture it in a container. (H)e then sopped up the residue with rags, as he had learned to do through the process of getting his California contractor license.

Cleanups are messy affairs and a small quantity of the paint oozed onto the driveway. When it appeared the paint would stain his customer's attractive and recently installed drive, he used the garden hose to rinse it off the pavement.

With the curb appeal restored, he went back into the house to complete the job.

A while later, he came outside to get something from his van and froze in his tracks.

Before his eyes were two firetrucks, each staffed by three firefighters, including paramedic and hazardous-materials specialists. There were two city of Oxnard code compliance officers. A Harbor Patrol vessel had been dispatched. A California Department of Fish and Game warden also responded. The scene was short only moon suits and a hovering helicopter.

In all, 13 public officials arrived on the scene.

I am surprised Rob didn't pick up on this.