All roads were reopened as cleanup and containment efforts continued Thursday following an oil spill from a broken pipeline that sent at least 2,400 gallons onto an East L.A. intersection and into the Los Angeles River and toward the Port of Long Beach, affecting birds and other wildlife.
Booms and oil-absorbing pads were deployed along a 17-mile stretch downstream from the area where the pipe was broken near the intersection of East Cesar Chavez and North Eastern avenues, and air monitoring was ongoing as a precaution after the pipeline, which brings crude oil from Kern County to the Port of Long Beach, was broken by a construction crew laying out a fiber optic line around 3 a.m. Friday.
On Thursday, incident commanders announced that 100 oiled birds has been recovered alive and another eight were found dead.
Incident commanders also “affirmed that the immediate public safety concerns in the area resolved,” said California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Eric Laughlin.
The pipeline operator, Pacific Pipeline Systems, is part of the Unified Command in charge of the spill response, along with representatives from the EPA, the CDFW’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters were dispatched after the ruptured pipe began spewing crude oil, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department public information officer, who said a slick was visible in the intersection at Chavez and Eastern.
Pacific Pipleline Systems was notified of the break and shut down the flow within 30 minutes, according to a fire department spokeswoman, who said the shut-off valve was near Dodger Stadium.
It was unclear how long the cleanup might take or when the broken pipeline would be fully repaired and put back into service.
Businesses impacted by the incident can file a claim by calling 877-817-5465, according to a dispatch from the county.
“Crude oil entered nearby storm drains and impacted approximately 17 miles of the Los Angeles River,” according to Laughlin. “As of 9 a.m. (Thursday), sheening and product was contained north of the Pacific Coast Highway bridge.
The cleanup effort continues with containment boom deployed at multiple points along the river, according to Laughlin.
Prior to the reopening of the intersection near the spill location, soil condition beneath the pavement was examined and affected areas, including sidewalk surfaces, were cleaned, Laughlin said.
“Longer-term soil remediation work in the area where the pipeline rupture occurred will be planned for a later date under the oversight of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board,” Laughlin explained. “The work will be scheduled with consideration for community impacts and minimizing disruption to nearby residents and businesses.”
Affected storm drains in the area of the intersection have been cleaned and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network has been activated to recover and care for oiled wildlife.
Members of the public should not attempt to capture or rescue oiled bird but instead should report the afflicted creatures by calling 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926).
Some of the injured or deceased birds that have been collected may not have been suffering oil spill effects, Laughlin said.