Environment Rhode Island

An oil barge spilled more than 9,000 gallons into an ecologically sensitive area of Narragansett Bay, raising concerns for shorebirds and fragile habitats. The Coast Guard believes the spill was caused when the barge collided with the tugboat that was towing it. The 460-foot barge was carrying more than 10 million gallons of oil. It was ruptured about two miles from Prudence Island, home to the Narragansett Bay Estuarine Sanctuary.

An oil barge spilled more than 9,000 gallons into an ecologically sensitive area of Narragansett Bay, raising concerns for shorebirds and fragile habitats. The Coast Guard believes the spill was caused when the barge collided with the tugboat that was towing it. The 460-foot barge was carrying more than 10 million gallons of oil. It was ruptured about two miles from Prudence Island, home to the Narragansett Bay Estuarine Sanctuary.

Sitting on the patio of the UCLA Hammer Museum, James Elaine hunches forward in his chair, his pale blue eyes turning serious as he says, "This is not a career choice. This is my passion." Elaine is curator of Hammer Projects at the Westwood museum, and since his 1999 arrival he has established this exhibition program as one of the most adventuresome in Southern California. Hammer Projects is dedicated to exhibiting the work of young artists, many of whom have never had a museum show.