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March 12, 2007
OIL SPILL INVESTIGATION
CONTINUES; OFFICIALS DECLARE CLEANUP COMPLETE
Nearly One
Dozen Spills Have Occurred in the
Sespe Area in the Past Three Years
Sespe Oil
Field, Los Padres National Forest - More than 80 workers have
finished their cleanup of last month's massive oil spill in the
Los Padres National Forest. The spill coated three miles of a
Ventura County creek that forms the southern boundary of the
Sespe Condor Sanctuary, and came close to the Sespe Wild &
Scenic River, critical habitat for the endangered southern
steelhead.
An oil sheen and murky
water caused by last month's oil spill.
Workers used absorbent pads and flotation devices to clean up
some of the mess. Overhead pipelines are reflected in the water.
ForestWatch has learned that much more oil has spilled than
initially reported, though the total amount of the spill will
not be released until later this month. ForestWatch has also
uncovered reports documenting nearly one dozen spills in the
same area over the past three years.
The oil
company initially reported spilling about 200 gallons of oil,
but several sources have confirmed that as much as four times
that amount was spilled. Officials expect to release final spill
totals later this month after they complete their investigation.
One week
after the first spill occurred, a second spill was detected in
the same area, and on the same pipeline. This second spill was
much smaller - 20 gallons - and reportedly did not enter the
creek.
By the week
of February 19 - three weeks after the spill was first reported
- workers had removed most surface contamination, and officials
declared the cleanup complete. ForestWatch visited the area
shortly thereafter, and observed oil-stained rocks and several
remaining pockets of oil floating on the surface - proof that
the spill's impacts will remain for quite some time.
Workers clean up the
spill where Tar Creek crosses a dirt road.
As many as 82 workers were on site,
some for as long as three weeks.
With the
cleanup complete, officials are now working to finalize their
investigation and prepare an assessment of the damage caused by
the spill. Based on the findings of the investigation, the state
Attorney General's office could pursue fines or criminal charges
if appropriate. At this time, it's unknown whether any charges
will be filed.
The spill
was reported on January 30, and was caused by a break in a
3-inch wastewater line. After initially pointing to "possible
corrosion" in the pipeline, the oil company later blamed recent
cold weather for causing the pipeline to rupture.
The spill coated three miles of Tar Creek, and according to
reports, came within three miles of the confluence with Sespe
Creek and a series of spectacular waterfalls there. This is an
area where endangered California condors are known to drink.
According to preliminary reports, no condors were harmed by the
oil spill, though the spill did enter the Sespe Condor
Sanctuary.
According to
a press release from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the oil
company responsible for the spill - Vintage Petroleum - has
replaced the broken line and will examine all wastewater lines
in the field to see if they need to be replaced and/or rerouted
and will increase monitoring of the waste water tanks.
Nearly a
dozen spills have occurred in this area in the past three years,
including a massive spill of 8,400 gallons of salt water and an
"unknown" amount of oil into the Four Forks Creek, a tributary
of Sespe Creek, in 2006. Other Sespe Creek tributaries affected
by recent spills include Maple Creek (630 gallons in 2005) and
an unnamed drainage (1,470 gallons in 2004). Vintage spilled 210
gallons of oil in the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
adjacent to the national forest - an area closed to public entry
and set aside to protect the endangered California condor.
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