The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors OK’d a motion Tuesday directing staff to continue community outreach and provide updates on cleanup work, environmental testing and available resources related to the East LA oil spill two months ago.
The board also directed the county’s oil spill recovery website to remain available as a central source of information as the cleanup effort continues.
“Today’s motion reflects my continued commitment to ensuring residents have access to answers, transparency and the support they need, while making clear that their concerns will not be forgotten,” according to a statement by Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents cities and unincorporated areas in East Los Angeles.
With the emergency response now concluded and “as cleanup and remediation move forward, I remain focused on protecting public health, supporting residents and small businesses, and ensuring accountability for those responsible,” Solis said.
At the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, she convened county departments to provide an update on the status of environmental testing, cleanup work, public health impacts, community outreach and accountability for the parties responsible for the spill.
A broken pipe released an estimated 25,000 gallons of crude oil from an underground pipeline, according to the county.
On May 22, a pipeline ruptured near Eastern Avenue and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in unincorporated East LA during telecommunications work by a private company installing fiber-optic cable.
Oil spewed into the local storm drain system, reaching the Los Angeles River and affecting communities throughout Southeast LA, including Vernon, Maywood, Bell, Cudahy, South Gate, Lynwood and Long Beach.
The incident served as a reminder of longstanding concerns about environmental injustices for local residents and elected officials.
Officials established a Unified Incident Command to track the spill, consisting of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Pacific Pipeline System.
Cleanup of the LA River and storm drain system concluded on June 23, and the incident commanders transitioned crews of responders emergency work to long-term remediation.
County departments are still involved in the recovery effort, officials said. They have also provided outreach to help businesses and residents affected by the oil spill with the claims process.
The Department of Public Works and the Los Angeles County Fire Department are coordinating with the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board for cleanup work, testing and regulatory oversight, while the county Department of Public Health is offering guidance about potential health concerns.
Information and updates about the cleanup is online at recovery.lacounty.gov/disasters/east-la-oil-spill.
