An estimated 2,400 gallons of crude oil spilled onto East L.A. streets near homes, businesses and schools.
Crews clean the scene along Cesar E. Chavez and Eastern avenues, where gallons of crude oil spill ed onto the street. This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist.
If you find value in independent local reporting, Officials said early reports indicated a boring crew conducting directional drilling for a fiber optic line struck the 16-inch petroleum pipeline, which sent an estimated 2,400 gallons of crude oil onto nearby streets and into storm drains and the Los Angeles River. Streets in the area reopened Thursday after days of closures that disrupted nearby residents, businesses and schools, though more soil remediation remains ahead.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.
In the hours after the spill, Boyle Heights Beat reporters witnessed a truck labeled Camarillo Drilling Inc. A Camarillo Drilling representative told the Beat they were seeking counsel and could not confirm if they were working at the site.from the state Department of Water Resources notes that Camarillo Drilling Company, in April 2020, punctured the Santa Ana Pipeline in Riverside “while performing directional and horizontal boring during installation of an underground communications cable.
” The Department of Water Resources filed a complaint against Camarillo Drilling in Riverside County Superior Court in April 2022, seeking damages of about $1.2 million to cover pipeline repair expenses and DWR staffing costs, according to the report. that HP Communications was behind the drilling of the fiber optic line. A representative with HP Communications told the Beat they could not comment or confirm that they were working at the site.
The plan involves building a network of high-capacity fiber lines that carry large amounts of data at high speeds over long distances,. About 10,000 miles of fiber optic cable is being installed throughout California, including more than 500 miles in Los Angeles County. The state owns and manages the system.
Another company that was awarded a contract for the plan is Arcadian Infracom, which in 2023, held a groundbreaking event in Boyle Heights for the California portion of its L.A. to Phoenix fiber route, LAist reported in 2024. The project will help serve residents in East L.A. and extend to communities in Barstow and Needles .
It’s not clear if the drilling that led to the pipeline rupture is linked to the Broadband for All effort. Arcadian Infracom has not returned a request for comment regarding any potential involvement with the pipeline puncture. The California Department of Technology did not respond to Boyle Heights Beat’s questions in time for publication. A state investigation into how the pipe was struck remains ongoing.
Supervisor Hilda Solis on Thursday said she’d work with the Board of Supervisors to ensure “every responsible party is held accountable and advancing stronger protections for impacted residents, communities, and small businesses. ”Claims of damage believed to be caused by the spill can be submitted to PPS by calling 817-5465. Callers will be prompted to leave their name and contact information in a voicemail for a representative to return the call.
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. 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 by calling CUT SMOG or 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 L.A. County Department of Public Health by calling 430-9821 or by emailing DPH-OEJCH@ph.lacounty.gov. You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit.
Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead . Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community. Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved.
The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California. Early Childhood EducationWorld Cup transit
East Los Angeles La River Oil Spill What Caused Oil Spill Who Caused Oil Spill
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Bexar County moves forward on $15M incentive package for H-E-B’s East Side expansionBexar County is moving on plans to assist H-E-B with its East Side expansion push.
Read more »
Small business owners impacted by East LA oil spillSmall business owners in East Los Angeles say they’re trying to recover the losses they endured after an oil spill occurred in the community.
Read more »
East LA oil spill causeWhat we know about the companies involved
Read more »
Film Friday: Kodak TMax 400 Is Far From a One-Trick PonyTmax 400 came into the world in 1986, and since its introduction, TMax 400 has helped define a whole new generation of black and white films.
Read more »