Agencies Responding to Oil Spill in Los Angeles County

UPDATE on May 23

Oil Spill Response Continues in Los Angeles County; Unified Command Established

Los Angeles, Calif. – This morning, an underground crude oil pipeline was struck by a telecommunications contractor near the intersection of East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and North Eastern Avenue. Crude oil entered nearby storms drains. There is also crude oil impacting the Los Angeles River.

Containment boom is deployed within the waterway at multiple locations to prevent further migration downstream. As of 4 p.m. PST Friday, no product was observed south of Wardlow Road.

An investigation into what led to the third-party line strike and the volume discharged is ongoing. The pipeline has been shut down, and crews are working to excavate and repair the impacted section.

A Unified Command has been established to manage the response, which includes representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), Los Angeles County Fire Department and Pacific Pipeline System, LLC (PPS), which operates the impacted pipeline.

Cleanup crews are on-scene containing and recovering the oil. The safety of the public and responders and minimizing impacts to the environment are the top priorities of the Unified Command. Road closures in the immediate area of the incident are expected during repairs. 

Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazmat and South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) conducted initial air monitoring and determined there was not a threat to public health. As crews excavate the area to make repairs on the pipeline, increased odors may be present. Air monitoring is ongoing out of an abundance of caution. For air quality concerns please contact the South Coast AQMD at          800-288-7664.

No observations of oiled wildlife have been reported but the Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) has been activated to survey the area. For your safety and the safety of the animals, do not attempt to capture oiled animals.

Report potentially oiled wildlife to 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926). This is not a volunteer or public information/media hotline.

Public volunteers are not needed at this time, but an information line has been established that will provide updates. The number to call is 1-800-228-4544.

The claims phone number for this incident is 1-877-817-5465.

For the latest information, follow social media updates at this handle: @CalSpillWatch

Original Post on May 22

California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) and other agencies are responding to a discharge of crude oil from an underground pipeline that ruptured near East Cesar Chavez Avenue and North Eastern Avenue.

Petroleum product entered storm drains and was released into the Los Angeles River. Multiple agencies are coordinating the response, and cleanup and recovery efforts have been initiated. Investigation into the cause and volume is ongoing.

OSPR personnel on-scene include wildlife officers, environmental scientists and oil spill prevention specialists.

The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN) has been notified and is on standby for wildlife response. No observations of oiled wildlife have been reported at this time.

The amount of oil discharged is unknown at this time and is under investigation.

More information will be released as it becomes available and is confirmed by the response team.

For updates on the oil spill follow OSPR on social media at this handle @CalSpillWatch.