California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an emergency declaration to help streamline efforts to rebuild a major portion of freeway interchange near the Bay Bridge that collapsed after a gasoline tanker truck exploded Sunday.

Schwarzenegger's declaration calls for emergency funding and a streamlining of public contracting practices and environmental codes so that debris removal and reconstruction can begin immediately.

"It allows these repairs to happen much quicker," said Adam Mendelsohn, the governor's communications director.

The governor also called for public transit agencies -- including BART, AC Transit, and ferry services -- to provide free rides to commuters on Monday.

Schwarzenegger added he had ordered all state government agencies to make every resource available to minimize the inconvenience passed on to drivers.

"Undoubtedly, today's incident will cause severe difficulties for Bay Area commuters. The state will take every action possible to minimize the impact on commuters and repair the overpass as quickly as possible," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

Text of emergency declaration:

A PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS a traffic collision occurred near Oakland in Alameda County on the westbound Interstate 80 during the early morning hours on Sunday, April 29, 2007, resulting in intense fire, heat and destruction of portions of Interstate 80, Interstate 880, Interstate 580 and nearby roadways; and

WHEREAS this event has caused closure of highways and roadways, traffic congestion, impact to the local and statewide economy, threats to public safety, and impaired movement of goods and services; and WHEREAS the circumstances of this situation, by reason of their magnitude, are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS conditions of extreme peril to public health and safety of persons and property exists within the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa and the City and County of San Francisco caused by the effects of this collision on April 29, 2007 and continuing; and

WHEREAS strict compliance with all statutes, rules and regulations prescribing procedures for the conduct of certain state business, specifically the award and administration of state contracts, would hinder and delay the completion of investigation, technical analysis, and repair work; and

WHEREAS under the provision of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril exist due to these events.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa and the City and County of San Francisco.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the State Emergency Plan, and that OES provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

I FURTHER DIRECT THAT:

1. The operation of all statutes, rules and regulations as they apply to contracts for the investigation, analysis and repair of damage to roadways shall be hereby suspended for the purpose of facilitating the reopening and restoration of the transportation structures damaged by this emergency. California Department of Transportation officers shall exercise sound discretion to apply the suspension to ensure that the suspension of statutes, rules and regulations serves the purpose of accelerating the reopening and restoration of the transportation structures damaged by this emergency; and

2. The statutes, rules and regulations, as they apply to the excavation of rock, gravel, sand or soil from public or private lands under the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975 (as amended) (Public Resources Code, Division 2, Chapter 9) are hereby suspended for excavation that is for the sole purpose of repairing and reconstructing the transportation structures damaged by this emergency; and

3. In accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 8690.6 of the California Emergency Services Act in the California Government Code: (a) To facilitate commuting until alternative routes and additional public transit can be established, funding shall be made available to reimburse local transit authorities (including BART, AC Transit and ferry operators) for the cost of providing free public transit services for San Francisco Bay Area commuters for Monday, April 30, 2007; and (b) To accelerate the reopening and restoration of the transportation structures damaged by this emergency, funding shall be made available to cover any necessary and approved overtime costs incurred by the California Highway Patrol and the California Department of Transportation employees; and

4. In accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 8627.5 of the California Emergency Services Act in the California Government Code, I hereby suspend any state, county, city or special district statute, ordinance, regulation or rule imposing non-safety related restrictions on the delivery of food products through retail or institutional channels, including but not limited to hospitals, jails, restaurants and schools; including, but not limited to, rules governing the hours during which deliveries may be made; and

5. The Secretary of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, Director of the California Department of Transportation, and Director of the California Highway Patrol shall continue to work with transit authorities to facilitate the flow of goods and services as well as address the needs of commuters affected by these events.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 29th Day of April 2007.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
Governor of California