A crude oil spill that began with a ruptured pipeline in East Los Angeles has now spread miles down the L.A. River, prompting an extensive multi-agency cleanup effort and concerns from nearby residents.
California wildlife officials said more than 2,000 gallons of crude oil released from a pipeline that ruptured near Cesar Chavez Avenue and Eastern Avenue on Friday entered storm drains that spill into the river. Cleanup operations at both the pipeline site and the riverbank remained active on Monday.
“We know that this community is impacted, and we know that roads are shut down. We know that it’s an impact, so we just ask for everyone’s patience and just keep in mind, we will do this as quickly and as properly as we can,” said Kristina Werner with the Office of Spill Prevention and Response.
Efforts to contain the spill in the L.A. River have been underway over the past several days. So far, trained wildlife volunteers have treated more than two dozen oil-soaked birds found along the river.
SEE ALSO: Oiled birds collected, being treated after pipeline rupture and oil spill in East LA
Trained responders are providing specialized care and cleaning approximately 25 birds at the Los Angeles Oiled Bird Care & Education Center.
AIR7 video shows crews in hazmat suits cleaning up oil along the shoreline, while oil-obsorbing containment booms were deployed in Long Beach to prevent the spill from reaching the ocean.
“We have crews, really, almost like roadblocks on the river, setting up different containment zones to make sure that this product doesn’t get anywhere near the ocean,” Werner said.
Residents living near the pipeline break reported strong fumes since Friday. Lucy Aculco said she left her home to stay with her daughter because the odor became overwhelming. She said she has received little information from authorities.
“No one is telling us anything. No one’s telling us, ‘Hey, you know what, keep the windows closed. This is going on.’ How long is it going to be going on? No one says anything… because I’m asthmatic and I have a low immune system,” Aculco said.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Oil spills onto East LA streets, reaches LA River after pipeline rupture
Crews worked clean up a large oil spill in East L.A. after a construction project ruptured an underground pipeline, sending oil into streets, storm drains and the L.A. River.
Werner said air monitoring is underway.
“We have community air monitoring going on at all different locations that crews are working, so it’s community air monitoring, but we also have physical people on the ground walking around with air monitoring tools to make sure that there’s nothing to be concerned about,” she said.
State officials say they have been able to keep the oil from flowing into the river south of Pacific Coast Highway. They have not provided an estimate for how long cleanup efforts will continue.
Authorities urged the public not to approach or attempt to rescue affected wildlife and to report sightings to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926).
