The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a motion directing departments to continue community engagement and provide updates on cleanup, testing and available resources related to the East L.A. oil spill that occurred in May.
The motion also directed the county’s oil spill recovery webpage to remain available as a centralized source of information throughout the remediation process.
“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,” said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who represents cities and unincorporated areas in East L.A.
During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Solis convened county departments to provide an update on the status of environmental testing, cleanup efforts, public health impacts, community outreach and steps being taken to hold the parties responsible for the oil spill accountable.
Solis emphasized that while the emergency is over, it remains their responsibility to protect affected communities.
“As clean up and remediation move forward, I remain focused on protecting public health, supporting residents and small businesses, and ensuring accountability for those responsible,” Solis said in a statement.
In May, a pipeline ruptured near Eastern Avenue and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue in unincorporated East Los Angeles during telecommunications work by a private company installing fiber-optic cable.
The broken pipe released an estimated 25,000 gallons of crude oil from an underground pipeline.
Oil spilled into the local storm drain system and reached the L.A. River. The spill impacted communities across Southeast Los Angeles, including Vernon, Maywood, Bell, Cudahy, South Gate, Lynwood and Long Beach.
Residents of East L.A., nearby communities and elected officials said the spill added to longstanding concerns about environmental injustices.
A Unified Incident Command was established following 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 L.A. County Fire Department and Pacific Pipeline System.
The Unified Command completed cleanup of the L.A. River and storm drain system before demobilizing on June 23, transitioning the incident from emergency response to long-term remediation.
County departments remain involved in the recovery effort, according to officials. 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 L.A. County Fire Department continue coordinating with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board on cleanup, testing and regulatory oversight, while the Department of Public Health provides guidance related to potential health concerns.
For more information and updates, visit recovery.lacounty.gov/disasters/east-la-oil-spill.