After months of calls for a town hall, East Los Angeles residents will hear from county representatives about recovery efforts and next steps at the first public update since a May spill released 25,000 gallons of crude oil onto streets and the LA River.
The informational session will take place this Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the City Terrace Park Social Hall. County agencies and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, which is directing the oil spill cleanup, will present findings from a report submitted by the pipeline operator in August.
The session will also showcase informational displays and maps, cleanup and recovery updates, environmental monitoring information, a Q&A with agency representatives and resources for residents and businesses.
Residents have demanded more information
The meeting comes after a July request from LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis to Public Works, and after residents have demanded information on the scope of the spill, public health guidance and cleanup updates.
At an Oct. 6 Maravilla Community Advisory Committee meeting, residents shared frustrations about the recent environmental disasters affecting East LA, including the oil spill and the Lineage warehouse fire. One attendee asked why her child’s school wasn’t evacuated on the day of the spill and had questions regarding the county’s response.
“Why didn’t our supervisor host a press conference when it happened?” she asked. “Who is representing us? Why? Why does this always happen here in East LA?”
The sentiment was shared by MCAC President Kristie Hernandez, who said at the meeting, “This is the largest oil spill in recent history here in this Los Angeles area… Because there has been a lack of communication of the seriousness of this matter, we are led to believe that it’s just another day in East Los Angeles and that is not okay.”
What was in the oil spill report?
In August, pipeline operator Pacific Pipeline System LLC submitted a 900-page report that outlines the results of extensive soil testing. The report also includes the results of environmental tests requested by Plains All American, which has owned Pacific Pipeline System since 2006.
At the MCAC meeting, Jeremy Barela of the Regional Water Quality Control Board explained that the board is currently reviewing the report’s findings and is preparing a letter to PPS and surrounding cities outlining what further testing needs to be done before a full remediation plan can be created. Residents can track updates on the project here.
The report has identified contaminants including gas and diesel-related petroleum as well as benzene and ethylene, aromatic hydrocarbons, according to Barela.
The contaminants spread into the soil, and while it is understood how deep they went, further testing is needed to determine how far they spread vertically.
“We know how deep that contamination went but further vertical delineation is needed… so we’re going to be requesting further assessment in that sense,” Barela said.
The letter is expected to be sent in October or November, Barela said.
After the letter is submitted, the board will also publish a fact sheet for residents that outlines the work that has been done and what the next steps will be.
How to attend the info session
When: Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: City Terrace Park Social Hall, 1126 N. Hazard Ave.
Presentations on the oil spill report findings and next steps will be shown at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. County agencies and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board will be available to answer residents’ questions.
Spanish-language materials and interpretation will be available, and light snacks will be provided.
Los Angeles Documenter, Andrew Lopez, contributed reporting for this story from the Oct. 6 Maravilla Community Advisory Committee meeting at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. The LA Documenters program trains and pays community members to document proceedings at public meetings. Learn more about the program here.
