Here is some current information about the oil spill near Santa Barbara that happened last Tuesday.
The below information was posted on the county intranet last evening. I am emailing ADMHS with the goal of keeping all informed of the incident response activities and to be available to answer, or seek answers for, any questions you may have.
Incident Update: Refugio Oil Spill
May 21, 2015
5:15 pm
Santa Barbara County staff continues to play a significant role in support of the Refugio Oil Spill. This update is intended to keep County employees updated regarding the incident.
The Santa Barbara County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is open in support of the Unified Command that is coordinating the overall response. Hundreds of responders from local, state and federal agencies are responding to the oil spill.
A proclamation that a local state of emergency exists was issued by the Office of Emergency Management; the Board of Supervisors will hear the matter at their meeting on May 26. Proclaiming a state of emergency is an essential step to secure additional resources.
Based on information of the pipeline flow rate and its elevation profile, the data on estimated worst-case scenario remains up to 2,500 barrels (105,000 gallons) of crude oil released from the pipeline. The current estimate remains approximately 500 barrels, which is approximately 21,000 gallons, migrated to the water.
Based on the Joint Information Center call volume, we have seen an increase in media interest, spreading to national and even international level of media interest.
There are currently 349 local, state and federal responders providing on-the-ground assistance. The United States Coast Guard has contracted with numerous organizations to assist with the response efforts including contracts with animal care clinics and animal rescue. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports 6 brown pelicans have been rescued and actively receiving care from the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. Also reported was the rescue of a sea lion now transferred to Sea World for ongoing care.
The Coast Guard reports 3 skimmers and 5 shoreline cleanup and assessment techniques (SCAT) teams to have been active today with 15 additional skimmers in route to assist. Skimmers are used to recover heavy weathered crude and emulsions. SCAT teams include people who have specialized training and knowledge in oil clean up. 4,500 feet of containment boom have been deployed and 3,800 crude gallons of oily mixture recovered. Clean up efforts have begun inside of the culvert. These efforts will effect temporary road closures during this work effort, including intermittent one-lane closures of HW 101.
Efforts continue to monitor the high volume of community members wishing to volunteer with the clean-up efforts. In order to ensure our public safety efforts, the community is urged to stay outside of the impacted areas which may present a health hazard. People wishing to volunteer may visit the following website to gather information: https://calspillwatch.dfg.ca.gov or call 1-800-228-4544. The Public Health Department has placed air monitors within the area to monitor for air quality and monitor safety. Water quality is also being tested. For safety precautions, people are asked not to try to rescue wildlife, but rather contact the Wildlife Care Network at 1-866-753-3619 to report effected wildlife. Coal Oil Point, located near UCSB has been closed to protect the snowy plovers currently nesting in this area.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acts as a science advisor to the US Coast Guard and reported overflight data gathered today. NOAA reports that no black oil flow was seen today as was the case yesterday indicating that it has broken down, been captured or evaporated through natural dissipation. Widely scattered tar balls were seen toward the shore. The overflight team flew past UCSB and the Goleta Bay and though some oil was seen offshore, reported difficulty in identification of the source being from the spill or from natural seeps.
The county Office of Emergency Management will continue operations daily from 5:00 am through midnight with approximately 100 incident command staff activated. The Joint Information Center (JIC) can be reached by calling 696-1188. A JIC representative will remain on call overnight.
Press briefings will be held daily at 10:30 am and 6:15 pm. Information on these briefings and general updates can be found at www.refugioresponse.com
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As a Californian this makes me sick and mad. I hope our clean-up is better than many I have witnessed in other States. 
