Oil Spill Response
Official Incident Website - https://socalspillresponse.com/
Volunteer Registry - https://calspillwatch.wildlife.ca.gov/volunteer
Incident Overview
On Saturday, October 2, the City of Newport Beach was notified of an oil spill located approximately 3-4 miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. The spill created an oil slick that stretched approximately 13 square miles. Oil was first observed onshore in Newport Beach the following day, when it was found on City beaches between 52nd Street and the Santa Ana River.
Preliminary results of the investigation indicate that the leak originated from a broken pipeline connected to Oil Platform Elly, an offshore oil rig owned by Amplify Energy Corporation. Current estimates are that 126,000 gallons of oil leaked into ocean waters.
The multi-agency, cleanup response and incident investigation is being led by the U.S. Coast Guard and the state Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. It includes County of Orange, the cities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach and Amplify Energy.
Advisories and Closures
- The state Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has temporarily prohibited all fishing and collecting of shellfish (both recreational and commercial) from Huntington Beach south to Dana Point.
- As of Monday, October 11, the beaches are fully reopen. Residents and visitors are advised to avoid contact with any oiled areas of the beach and tar balls that wash ashore.
- The entrance to Newport Harbor reopened Friday, October 8 following a five-day closure.
Beach Clean Up
Trained spill response contractors have been dispatched to clean up the oil. Public volunteers are not needed at this time and could hinder response efforts.
Oil-Impacted Wildlife Concerns
Members of the public are advised to avoid contact with oiled wildlife and to stay away from tidepools and other sensitive wildlife habitat. Please call (877) 823-6926 to report wildlife impacted by the spill.
Volunteer Opportunities
Community volunteers that meet the following minimum requirements are asked to complete the volunteer registration form at
https://calspillwatch.wildlife.ca.gov/Volunteer
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be able to lift up to 25 pounds
- Be willing to follow County Public Health COVID procedures.
For a registration form and more information visit https://calspillwatch.wildlife.ca.gov/Volunteer
To reach the Volunteer Hotline call 1-800-228-4544.
In addition, Newport Beach and other coastal cities are partnering with Surfrider to help coordinate volunteer opportunities in the near future. Register at www.cleanups.surfrider.org to be notified of future opportunities.
Emergency Proclamation
City Manager Grace Leung, acting in her capacity of director of emergency services, signed a proclamation of local emergency on October 5. The City Council will be asked to ratify the proclamation at its October 12 meeting.
District 1 Town Hall Presentation
Chief Lifeguard Mike Halphide provided a report on the oil spill at the October 5 Town Hall meeting.
Officials Celebrate Opening of Newport Harbor’s Newest, Largest Public Dock
Officials from the City of Newport Beach, the County of Orange, the Irvine Company and State Assembly celebrated the grand opening of Newport Harbor’s largest public dock on Friday, March 29.
Following a ceremonial ribbon cutting, the Balboa Marina Public Pier was officially opened for public use. The new pier can accommodate up to 12 small vessels or several larger vessels. It is free for day use by the public for up to three hours.
The pier greatly expands public access and recreational opportunities in a previously underserved area of the harbor. The project is a partnership between the City, County and Irvine Company.
“We are really excited. We know this will not only increase the opportunities people have to access the inner harbor but also open up a new gateway to our city,” said Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill. “It will allow more folks to come here, enjoy themselves, and eat and shop local.”
The City of Newport Beach will own, maintain and operate the pier, which is free for day use by the public for up to three hours. The pier is ADA compliant and includes the opportunity to use the “human lift” device already in use at Marina Park.
Part of the dock is located on tidelands property controlled by the County of Orange. The County Board of Supervisors granted the City long-term access in 2022 with a 45-year, no-cost lease.
“After voting to approve much-needed improvements to the Balboa Marina on County tidelands in 2022, I am happy to see the vision for the Pier completed,” said Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Fifth District. With 12 new public docks, an accessible lift I requested, and 26 new private slips, this will help the Balboa Marina Public Pier serve even more boaters. I remain grateful to our partners at the City of Newport Beach and the Irvine Company for their roles in this project. Now, I look forward to the community enjoying Newport Harbor even more in the years to follow.”
The new pier was constructed and financed by the Irvine Company as part of an agreement with the California Coastal Commission that allows for expansion of an adjacent private marina.
“We appreciate the support and partnership of the City of Newport Beach, County of Orange and the California Coastal Commission in working together to create new and expanded recreational opportunities for residents and visitors in Newport Harbor,” said Irvine Company Executive Roger Ploum.
Discussions of a public pier date back to 2011, when the Irvine Company initiated a new phase of its marina expansion project. A public-private partnership was formed, in which the City agreed to a pay the entitlement costs and the Irvine Company agreed to construct the dock.
Newport Beach Harbor Commissioner Steve Scully noted that a 2013 study by the Commission identified this location as one of the harbor areas where a public pier was most needed. It was No. 2 after Central Avenue (where a new pier was built in 2016).
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