An extensive cleanup effort is underway in Los Angeles after a ruptured pipeline released more than 2,000 gallons of crude oil into the Los Angeles River. The incident occurred on Friday morning when a telecommunications contractor struck a pipeline near East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Eastern Avenue, causing crude oil to flow into nearby storm drains and ultimately into the river.
Response and Containment
The Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) confirmed that crews have been working diligently to contain the spill. Oil-absorbing containment booms have been deployed in Long Beach to prevent the oil from reaching the ocean. Kristina Werner, an OSPR spokesperson, stated, 'We have crews, really, almost like roadblocks on the river, setting up different containment zones to make sure that this product doesn't get anywhere near the ocean.'
Skimming operations have also begun to remove oil from the river. The City of Long Beach confirmed that no new oil is entering the river, and an oil sheen observed near the Pacific Coast Highway Bridge on Saturday led to the deployment of additional booms. No sheens have been detected in the Ocean Boulevard and Golden Shore areas.
Wildlife Impact
The Oiled Wildlife Care Network reported that oiled birds have been collected from around the LA River and transported to the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care & Education Center for cleaning. As of Monday, approximately 25 birds were receiving care at the facility.
Community Concerns
Residents living near the pipeline have reported strong fumes since Friday. Lucy Aculco, a local resident, told ABC7 that she left her home to stay with her daughter because the odor was overwhelming. 'No one is telling us anything,' Aculco said. 'How long is it going to be going on? I'm asthmatic, and I have a low immune system.'
Werner confirmed that community air monitoring is underway at various locations where crews are working. 'We have community air monitoring going on at all different locations that crews are working, so it's community air monitoring, but we also have physical people on the ground walking around with air monitoring tools to make sure that there's nothing to be concerned about,' she said.
Cause of the Spill
LA County Fire Captain Aaron Katon told The Los Angeles Times that the pipe burst after a telecommunications crew bored a 6-inch hole ten feet underground to lay fiber-optic cables, striking a pipeline that transports crude oil from Kern County to the Port of Los Angeles.
The Independent has contacted the Office of Spill Prevention and Response for comment.
