HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-11-18; Orange County Pipeline Oil Spill Incident, Report No. 6 (Districts - All); Harrison, DavidTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
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ouncil Memorandum
Nov. 18, 2021
To: Honorable Mayor
From: David Harrison, Assi ctor of Emergency Services
Via: Scott Chadwick, City """"~0
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Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2021218
Re: Orange County Pipeline Oil Spill Incident, Report No. 6 (Districts -All)
This memorandum provides information on to the Orange County pipeline oil spill and its
impacts. It focuses on information and actions that are current and/or new since the last
update.
Background
The Unified Command continues its response to the crude oil spill off the Orange County coast
that has affected San Diego County. Shorelines remain in various stages of assessment, cleanup,
inspection and the signoff process.
Initial sign off field team inspections continue in San Diego County, including in Carlsbad.
On Nov. 10 results from tar ball sampling conducted between Oct. 5 through Oct. 10 (Batch A)
and between Oct. 11 through Oct. 21 (Batch B) were announced by the Unified Command.
Batch A samples were determined "almost certainly NOT [to be] from same source [OC pipeline
incident]." Batch B samples were determined to be consistent with [from] the OC pipeline
incident. Batch A included samples taken from Carlsbad State Beach and Agua Hedionda
Lagoon, and Batch B included samples taken from South Carlsbad State Beach.
The spill amount is estimated at approximately 24,696 gallons. This spill estimate was reached
by consensus across seven agencies involved in the incident:
• United States Coast Guard
• Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife-Oil Spill Prevention and Response
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• California State Lands Commission
• State Fire Marshal
• U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Carlsbad Fire Department
2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 760-931-2141
Council Memo -Orange County Pipeline Oil Spill Incident, Report No. 6 (Districts -All)
Nov. 18, 2021
Page 2
Tar reporting and cleanup
Five tar ball reports documenting contamination on Carlsbad beaches were submitted by staff
and California State Parks lifeguards to the Unified Command during the period covered by this
Council Memorandum.
The public will likely continue to encounter tar balls or particles on San Diego County beaches,
including Carlsbad, in coming weeks and months. Such contamination is possibly more likely
after storms or high tides. The highest tides of the year are anticipated Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.
Beach inspection and cleanup transition
Staff have completed nine independent shoreline spot inspections focusing on North Carlsbad
Beach since the last Council Memorandum.
Along with representatives from U. S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife,
State Parks lifeguards and the responsible party Amplify Energy through its subsidiary, Beta
Offshore -staff participated in a sign-off inspection of Carlsbad beaches on Nov. 7. A cleanup
team followed the inspection team to remove all oil identified during the inspection. The team,
with the exception of the city staff representative, determined the beach sections from Agua
Hedionda Lagoon north to Buena Vista Lagoon met beach "end point" cleanliness standards.
City staff, however, recommended further cleaning and inspection of the beach from Oak
Street north to Buena Vista Lagoon, citing the size and number of tar balls collected during the
inspection, as well as tar ball reports submitted by staff on the previous two days.
Nov. 7 was the last date tar balls exceeding 1 inch have been observed on Carlsbad beaches,
and very few were found.
Inspection and cleanup summary:
• Nov. 3-11: No cleanup reported
• Nov. 12: Four bags of oil debris removed from Tamarack Beach
• Nov. 15: Inspection team evaluated cleanup status of Tamarack State Beach and South
Carlsbad State Beach
• Nov. 16-17: No cleanup or inspection team inspections conducted
Staff have requested, and Unified Command has agreed to provide, a copy of the sign-off report
once it is approved.
To date, in San Diego County, only Camp Pendleton beach segments have been signed off by
the Unified Command.
Council Memo -Orange County Pipeline Oil Spill Incident, Report No. 6 (Districts -All)
Nov. 18, 2021
Page 3
Once the Unified Command has reviewed and signed off on a shoreline segment, incident
operations enter response Phase 3, also known as the post-sign off transition period. The
Unified Command continues to receive briefings on the incident. The oil spill response
organization, contracted by the responsible party, assumes responsibility for responding to
reports of tar balls or oiling.
Continuing actions
• Extended tar ball monitoring and reporting (including resident reporting). (To report tar
and/or oil contamination, people can email: tarballreports@wildlife.ca.gov)
• Continuing coordination with the Unified Command and San Diego County Office of
Emergency Services
• Coordinating sign-off field team process
• Public information sharing
Potential community interests or concerns
• Continuing occurrence of tar balls for weeks and months
• Financial impacts and recovery (Community members impacted by the oil spill who need
to file a claim can call 866-985-8366)
• Environmental impact
• Future of offshore oil operations
cc: Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Mickey Williams, Police Chief
David Graham, Chief Innovation Officer
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director