The East LA oil spill was much worse than we thought

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Three companies were issued notices of violation from the South Coast Air Quality Management District last week for their roles in last month’s East L.A. oil spill, as county officials revealed new estimates showing the spill was far larger than initially reported. 

Approximately 25,000 gallons of crude oil were spilled during the May 22 drilling incident, according to L.A. County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella — nearly 10 times the 2,400 gallons originally reported by county agencies. 

A spokesperson from South Coast AQMD said the initial estimate was “based on visual observations made by first responders and reported to the California Office of Emergency Services.” But further assessment conducted by the pipeline operator revised the discharge volume.

“The incident itself can be considered one of the largest oil spills into the Los Angeles River in recent history,” Pestrella said during a June 9 meeting with the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. 

On June 18, South Coast AQMD sent notices of violations to Arcadian Infracom, HP Communications and Camarillo Drilling. Regulators said odors from the spill affected nearby communities.

The revised spill estimate reflects the severity of the incident that left roads closed for days, killed wildlife and sent oil into storm drains and the L.A. River. The scale of the spill has also prompted ongoing calls for more transparency from residents and community groups. 

In a June 22 email to the office of County Supervisor Hilda Solis, the Maravilla Community Advisory Committee (MCAC) called for a community town hall and greater access to environmental testing results, public health guidance and cleanup updates.

According to South Coast AQMD, inspectors responded to three public complaints the day of the spill, reporting strong petroleum odors, including one from Esteban E. Torres High School. Inspectors later confirmed the odors originated from the oil spill site at the intersection of Eastern and Cesar Chavez avenues. 

As cleanup efforts were underway that week, the agency received seven complaints stemming from the smell of petroleum and air quality in the area. According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, odors may have caused or worsened headaches, nausea, dizziness, eye, nose or throat irritation, and breathing problems, such as asthma symptoms.

A South Coast AQMD rule and California Health and Safety Code prohibits emissions that “cause injury, nuisance or annoyance” to the public. Notices of violations can result in civil penalties, but if no settlement with responsible parties is reached, a civil lawsuit may be filed.

In a June 1 statement, HP Communications, the contractor responsible for installing the fiber optic lines, said the pipeline operator failed to properly mark the line’s location before the excavation work began.

South Coast AQMD’s identified Camillo Drilling as the company responsible for rupturing the pipeline during the fiber-optic installation project. Arcadian Infracom served as the project management company tasked with overseeing the work.

The oil spill and fallout thereafter remain under investigation. 

How to file a claim

Residents and business owners who believe they were harmed by the spill can file claims with Pacific Pipeline System, the company that operates the pipeline, by calling (877) 817-5465. 

Callers will be prompted to leave their name and contact information in a voicemail for a representative to return the call. On June 12, the L.A. County Department of Economic Opportunity announced it would offer guidance to people and businesses submitting claims.

According to the pipeline operator, some examples of claims that may be considered include: 

• Property damage
• Business interruption or loss of access
• Cleanup or remediation expenses
• Equipment, vehicle or inventory damage
• Other documented costs directly related to the incident
  

Boyle Heights Beat reporters Alejandra Molina and Laura Anaya-Morga contributed to this story.