SAN PEDRO, Calif. – Unified Command continues to oversee the response to an oil sheen observed offshore of Huntington Beach.
An overflight conducted this morning did not observe any sheen offshore. As such, offshore recovery assets will be demobilized. Shoreline cleanup teams continue to observe tar balls along the beaches in Huntington Beach and will continue to remove them as needed.
Cleanup crews recovered approximately 85 gallons of product from offshore recovery and removed about 800 pounds of oily waste and tar balls from the shoreline.
CDFW-OSPR consulted with the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). Based on information received from on-scene responders, OEHHA finds there is not likely to be a public health threat associated with consuming fish due to the incident. As such, there is no fisheries closure. OEHHA advises against fishing in areas with a visible sheen on the water.
With offshore recovery concluded the on-water safety zone is no longer in effect. There are no beach closures, but the public is advised to avoid contact with tar balls along the shoreline.
Wildlife Branch operations continue today, and crews are surveying the shoreline and are prepared to respond to reports of oiled wildlife. As of 10 a.m., three live birds that were visibly oiled were recovered: a Brandt’s cormorant, a common loon, and a western grebe. The cormorant died in care overnight. An injured, unoiled snowy plover that was captured also died overnight. Anyone observing oiled wildlife should not attempt to capture it; instead, please report observations of oiled wildlife to 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926). This phone number is not an informational or volunteer hotline.
For clarification, reports that Platform Elly reported a discharge of produced water on the morning of March 8 are correct. Still, the characteristics of the produced water from Platform Elly do not align with what was observed from the sheen. Currently, we do not believe the sheen and the discharge are related.
Media inquiries can be directed to the USCG Public Affairs Detachment at padetla@uscg.mil.
The investigation into the source of the sheen is ongoing.
Initial press release: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3701744/unified-command-is-responding-to-oil-sheen-offshore-of-huntington-beach/
Update 1 release: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3702099/update-1-unified-command-continues-response-to-sheen-offshore-of-huntington-bea/
Update 2 release: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3702199/update-2-unified-command-continues-response-to-sheen-offshore-of-huntington-bea/