Days after crews punctured an underground pipeline in East Los Angeles, spilling more than 2,000 gallons of crude oil, residents and businesses are still dealing with disruptions as cleanup work continues.
Residents reported impacts in the hours after the spill, including students who were late to school and some who experienced headaches and trouble breathing. Businesses along a commercial corridor on East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue were closed or experienced lower foot traffic.
Residents and business owners who believe they were harmed by the spill may be eligible to seek reimbursement from Pacific Pipeline System (PPS), the company that operates the pipeline, according to a spokesperson.
An information flyer handed out to local businesses over the weekend reads: “We understand that a pipeline incident may create disruption or impacts for nearby individuals, property owners and businesses. We are committed to working with affected parties to address verified claims for damages resulting directly from the incident.”
How to file a claim
Claims of damage believed to be caused by the spill can be submitted to PPS by calling 1-877-817-5465. Callers will be prompted to leave their name and contact information in a voicemail for a representative to return the call.
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
PPS will request contact information and a description of the claimed damages. The timeline for any potential compensation depends on the urgency of the claim, according to the spokesperson.
What residents and businesses have experienced
For business owners like Eusebio Mendez Oriol, any type of help at this time is critical.
Mendez Oriol operates Oriol Bike Shop on East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue near the site of the pipeline rupture. He said streets near his business have been closed since Friday morning, and though his shop has remained open, foot traffic has been extremely low.
“Normally on the weekends, especially holidays, it’s very busy but it was not,” said Mendez Oriol on Tuesday. He has run the shop for 24 years.
“I would like them to fix this problem as soon as possible because it is affecting us a lot,” Mendez Oriol said. “This has harmed us.”
Eastside families, like that of Damaris Rodriguez, were also affected by the spill
On Friday, Rodriguez picked up her son and daughter from Esteban E. Torres High School around 10:30 a.m. after her son complained of a headache and trouble breathing from the fumes coming into his classroom.
Rodriguez lives three blocks from where the pipeline rupture took place and said that over the weekend, her children, ages 15 and 16, were back to using steroid inhalers to manage their asthma. Her daughter, who has a history of headaches, experienced one while at school on Friday that worsened over the weekend. Rodriguez said she plans on booking a neurology appointment for her daughter this week.
“We may not even have answers of what is causing my daughter’s headaches until after the tests arrive … I’m just trying to navigate and keep them as safe as possible,” Rodriguez said.
How to report air quality concerns
To report excessive odors, smoke, dust and other air contaminants, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice advises residents to contact the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) by calling 1-800-CUT SMOG or 1-800-288-7664.
Residents can also access South Coast AQMD’s online complaint system by clicking here.
To report health concerns related to odors, residents can also contact the LA County Department of Public Health by calling 626-430-9821 or by emailing DPH-OEJCH@ph.lacounty.gov.
Boyle Heights Beat reporter Alejandra Molina contributed to this story.
