California Department of Fish and Wildlife evaluates response to Refugio oil spill

As the first anniversary of the Refugio Beach oil spill draws near, the state released a report on Tuesday, May 3, evaluating its response to the spill. Overall, the report commended the cooperation between government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and criticized preventative planning and education efforts.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) compiled the report. The agency is responsible for the protection, management, and restoration of California wildlife and habitat. It leads oil spill response efforts, and according to a press release from OSPR, the Refugio cleanup effort included more than 1,400 responders and 22 skimmer and support vessels on the water.

The spill tested OSPR’s response preparedness, Administrator and State On-Scene Coordinator Thomas Cullen said in the press release. In an analysis of the department’s response to the spill, the report highlighted success in:

  • • Coordination between state and federal partners.
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  • • Prompt closure and sampling of fisheries to ensure safety, as well as their prompt reopening.
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  • • Communication with NGOs.
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  • • Tribal training and participation in monitoring and cleaning up areas of cultural concern.

 

However, OSPR showed room for improvement in:

  • • Pre-emptive education efforts with local governments and NGOs.
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  • • Planning for earlier community engagement.
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  • • Developing an electronic shoreline assessment data management system.
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  • • Training additional staff to manage cleanup volunteers.

 

In response to the report, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) said OSPR did well to critically analyze its response to the Refugio crisis.

“Until we can wean ourselves off of oil, we must, unfortunately, anticipate more spills, so it’s important that we continue to work to improve the speed and effectiveness of our state’s response to such an event,” Jackson said in a statement. 

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