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Home | Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Which beaches are open and which beaches are closed?
The counties of Orange and San Diego will announce beach openings and closures on their websites. County of Orange website: www.ocgov.com/news. County of San Diego website: www.sdcountyemergency.com
I have an idea or know of technology or equipment that should be used for the response. Who should I notify?
The Unified Command is continually looking to improve response capabilities, and we appreciate the innovation and outpouring of support from business owners and the community. Please email your idea to the technology evaluation group at pipelinep00547RTE@wildlife.ca.gov 
How do I volunteer to be a part of the response?

OSPR’s Spontaneous Volunteer Program developed in 1996, provides an opportunity for concerned citizens to safely and effectively participate in Unified Command approved volunteer tasks during an oil spill event.

We are currently using pre-trained and affiliated volunteers and are now registering public volunteers.

You must be 18 years of age, able to lift 25lbs and follow County Public Health COVID procedures. Tasks may include pre-impact beach cleanup or debris removal. Safety training is required and a training link will be provided to registered volunteers.

Please register here to volunteer: https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/OSPRVolunteerForm/Default.aspx

Additional volunteer information is available at https://calspillwatch.wildlife.ca.gov/Volunteer and the Volunteer Hotline at 1-800-228-4544.

I see oil on the beach. How should I clean it up?

Oil should only be handled by trained shoreline cleanup assessment teams wearing appropriate protective gear. The public is advised to avoid any contact with visible oil on the beaches. If you spot oil, please contact tarballreports@wildlife.ca.gov.

Is the air safe to breathe?

Air quality monitoring was conducted along the coastline following the pipeline oil spill. The results of the monitoring were reviewed daily by Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH). Water contaminant testing is a slower process and may take between 3-5 days.

While not currently present, the inhalation of toxic oil vapors or other aerosolized oil compound particles from wind-blown waves can cause side effects including:

  • Skin, eye, nose and throat irritation
  • headache
  • dizziness
  • upset stomach
  • vomiting
  • cough or shortness of breath

The elderly, children, and persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma will be more susceptible to adverse side effects from inhaling the oil vapors. Please contact your family physician or call 911 should you experience these symptoms from contacting or inhaling the oil vapors.

The County of Orange and San Diego County Health Care Agencies, in coordination with local, state, and federal authorities will continue to monitor and keep you informed. In addition to the immediate impact on air pollution. In addition, they advise against consuming seafood from personal fishing off the beaches.

What are you doing to monitor oil spill impact on wildlife?
Wildlife Branch operations are continuing daily, monitoring the shoreline and on-water for affected wildlife. Anyone observing oiled wildlife should not attempt to capture it. Instead, please report observations of oiled wildlife to the oiled wildlife hotline at 1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-800-823-6926). Please do not call this number for volunteer questions. Please see the volunteer section here: http://calspillwatch.wildlife.ca.gov/volunteer
What caused this oil spill?

The Unified Command’s response priorities are life safety and protection of the environment. The investigation is completely independent of the response. Information about the investigation is available here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/2f67a1a

What agencies are involved in the response?

A Unified Command composed of representatives of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), California Department of Fish and  Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW-OSPR), and Amplify Energy Corp was established the afternoon of Saturday October 2. A representative of the County of Orange joined the Unified Command on Tuesday October 5 as a local government on-scene coordinator (LGOSC). A representative of the County of San Diego joined the Unified Command on Friday, Oct. 8 as a local government on-scene coordinator.

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Report Tarballs
When making a report, please be sure to include exact location (GPS coordinates if available), and/or landmarks and photos with a reference object (ie. shoe or quarter) so pollution responders can assess the report. Claims
1-866-985-8366
Report Oiled Wildlife
1-877-UCD-OWCN (1-877-823-6926)
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(310) 781-0619 Call/Text
inquiries@socalspillresponse.com
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