The Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) is continuing to monitor the situation on local beaches as petroleum-based product in the form of “tar balls” continue to wash up on the shoreline, according to LBFD.
On May 19, a pipeline operated by Plains All American Pipeline ruptured north of Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, spilling more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean and onto beaches along the coast. Local source testing is underway to determine if there is indeed a relation to the Santa Barbara oil spill. There are no indications that this incident is related to any Long Beach Gas and Oil operations, and continued testing will be required to determine exact origin of this product, according to the LBFD.
“Appropriate measures to locate and remove the product continue throughout the day,” states a press release from LBFD on Thursday. “In collaboration with the Long Beach Health Department and other city departments, the situation remains dynamic. Based on the potential risk to public health, area beaches from 1st Place through 72nd Place will remain closed until further notice at the direction of the city health officer.”
Agency representatives from the United States Coast Guard were on-scene Wednesday collecting samples of the petroleum-based substance for further testing, but it is unknown how long it will take to receive the results, according to LBFD.
At press time, volunteers with the Long Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Long Beach Search and Rescue were assisting with clean-up efforts. Approximately 55 gallons of petroleum-based product were recovered from the beach and transported offsite for appropriate disposal.
Reports of oil debris should be directed to the National Response Center Hotline at 1-800-424-8802.
City residents are advised to stay off of local area beaches due to the possibility of unsafe conditions. Contact with oil tars may cause skin irritation and long-term health effects. Beach users are advised to avoid contact with the oil tars washed onshore and/or found in the water.
The Long Beach Fire Department has established the incident command post in the parking lot at LaVerne Avenue and Ocean Boulevard. Members of the community who would like to participate in efforts to locate product on local beaches may call the CERT hotline at (562) 570-2525 for further instructions.
Source: LBFD
