ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — Today, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released a statement in response to the oil spill of the coast of Orange County.
On Thursday night, March 7, 2024, a sheen was reported. On Friday morning at first light, an oil spill approximately 2.5 in length and approximately 1.5 miles out from the shoreline in the City of Huntington Beach was identified by the U.S. Coast Guard, California Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill and Prevention (OSPR), and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol. Due to the excellent coordination established after the 2021 oil spill, the area was contained, tested, and cleaned up by Sunday. Testing continues for the source of the oil which the US Coast Guard expects to receive results on today.
“Over the weekend, the US Coast Guard and OSPR successfully cleaned up approximately 85 gallons of oil from offshore recovery and approximately 1,050 pounds of oily debris cleaned off the shore,” said Supervisor Foley. “Orange County knows firsthand the impacts of oil on our local ecosystems and our coastal economy. I remain grateful to our local, state, and federal partners for the impressive, expedient, coordinated response to cleaning up the oil efficiently.”
Since Friday, the US Coast Guard and OSPR cleaned up approximately 85 gallons of oil from offshore recovery and approximately 800 pounds of oily debris cleaned off the shore by Saturday. Then Unified Command reported that as of yesterday, crews picked up another 250 pounds of oily debris. Huntington Beach showed no new oil on the beach this morning.
“While mostly cleaned up, I encourage residents to protect public health and avoid contact with any tar balls that may wash up on the beach,” added Supervisor Foley.
According to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA,) there is not likely to be a public health threat associated with consuming fish due to the incident.
With offshore recovery concluded the on-water safety zone is no longer in effect.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.
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.
Follow @uscgsocal and @supervisorfoley for updates throughout the day.
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Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022 to represent the newly established District 5, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, a large portion of Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Newport Beach, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza, Emerald Bay, Ladera Ranch, Las Flores, Rancho Mission Viejo, Stonecliffe and Wagon Wheel. This is her second term on the Board of Supervisors, where she previously served District 2.
Supervisor Foley’s Board appointments include the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), OCFA Legislation & Public Affairs Committee Chair, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), OCTA Legislative and Communications Committee Vice Chair, Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA), TCA Joint Environmental Committee, Coastal Greenbelt Authority, Newport Bay and South Orange County Watershed Executive Committees, Ocean Institute, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Community Engagement Panel, Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Co-Chair, Orange County Housing Finance Trust Chair, and the Orange County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.
