Solis Provides Update on East Los Angeles Oil Spill Response, Announces Investigation Motion as Intersection Reopens

EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis today provided an update on ongoing response and recovery efforts related to the East Los Angeles crude oil spill and announced plans to introduce a motion at the next Board of Supervisors meeting calling for a full investigation into the incident, accountability for responsible parties, and additional protections and support for impacted residents and communities. She also noted that the intersection of East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and North Eastern Avenue has reopened following the Incident Command’s determination that immediate public safety and health concerns have been resolved.

“From the moment this spill occurred, my priority has been protecting the health and safety of residents and ensuring an aggressive response to contain the environmental damage. Communities like East Los Angeles have long carried disproportionate environmental burdens, and incidents like this only deepen those inequities. Accountability is not optional, and it must be pursued swiftly, thoroughly and without exception.

The Unified Incident Command overseeing this oil spill response, made up of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cal Office of Spill Prevention and Response, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Pacific Pipeline System, signaled the reopening of roads near East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and North Eastern Avenue after determining that immediate public safety concerns have been resolved. However, the reopening of roads does not lessen the seriousness of what occurred or the environmental damage still unfolding downstream. Cleanup and containment must continue with urgency, discipline and sustained oversight until the work is fully complete.

To that end, I will introduce a motion at the next Board of Supervisors meeting calling for a full investigation into how this incident occurred, ensuring every responsible party is held accountable and advancing stronger protections for impacted residents, communities, and small businesses. This includes strengthening prevention measures, increasing oversight, and implementing concrete safeguards so communities are never again forced to bear the consequences of preventable industrial failures.”

At Board Chair Solis’ direction, her office, in partnership with volunteers from several community-based organizations, conducted door-to-door outreach in the immediate area to provide residents with the latest updates, public health information, and guidance on how to file claims related to the incident.

Longer-term soil remediation in the area where the pipeline rupture occurred will be conducted under the oversight of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and scheduled to minimize disruption to nearby residents and businesses. Cleanup of oil in the affected storm drains within the immediate area of the intersection has been completed. An interactive map showing the progress of remaining storm drain cleaning activities is available here.

Residents can report odor complaints or air quality concerns to the South Coast Air Quality Management District at 1-800-288-7664. Community members without a medical provider who have health concerns related to the incident may contact the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Community Health Complaint Line at 626-430-9821. Any sightings of oiled wildlife should be reported to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 877-823-6926. Impacted residents and businesses may also file a complaint with Plains All American at 877-817-5465.