On June 22, 2005, an oil spill was discovered in a tributary to the Newhall Creek in Santa Clarita, CA (formerly thought to be Placerita Creek). The spill was traced by Los Angeles County Fire to the Petro-Resouces, Inc. (PRI) USL Lease crude oil production field. The release was caused by a landslide that damaged a pipeline from an oil storage tank. The landslide is believed to have been a result of recent seismic activity in southern California.
Approximately 1000 gallons of heavy crude (asphalt-like) and an unknown amount of production water was released. The oil originated from a production field tank. The crude migrated from the pipeline rupture into a creek bed at the bottom of a ravine. The ravine is in a coastal sage scrub habitat (Zone 1). According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), this habitat may be the home to the Coastal California Gnatcatcher, a Federally Threatened Species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The oil followed the creek bed into a 48"-diameter subterranean storm drain (Zone 2). The storm drain passes beneath a residential subdivision. The oil continued to migrate through the storm drain through an outfall into a creek bed in a riparian habitat that is a tributary to Newhall Creek (Zone 3). The oil migrated down the creek bed, but did not enter the Newhall Creek. Newhall Creek drains into the Santa Clara River. The Santa Clara River is the home to several federally listed endangered species.
The lease/land owner PRI has retained a cleanup contractor and is currently conducting removal operations.
An FOSC and START responded to the spill. A unified command was set up with the California Department of Fish and Game (CADFG) to manage the incident.
Zone 1 contamination was completed July 1, 2005.
Confirmation sampling of Zone 1 on July 5 indicated measurable amounts of TEPH in 2 sampled areas. Additional soil was removed from these areas and resampled. Results were ND. Silt dams were installed and PRP began developing work plan to address eliminating the source of the spill per amended 311 Order. July 15, PRP submitted an acceptable Work Plan. July 18, PRP commenced removal of residual product from old tanks and pipes.
START-LA to provide periodic monitoring in conjunction with Pyramid Lake visits.
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