FACT SHEET REFUGIO OIL SPILL PUBLIC FORUM FACT SHEET BACKGROUND SAFETY. For updates on the oil spill, visit

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1 PUBLIC FORUM FACT SHEET On May 30, 2015, representatives from the agencies who responded to the Refugio Oil Spill held an open house to respond to questions from the public regarding the oil spill response. In addition to conversations with attendees, questions were submitted in writing for follow-up response. While answers to some questions are still being researched and developed, every attempt is being made to respond to all concerns. There are many questions related to pipeline operations, the initial response to the oil spill, and the timeline of events. The investigation currently under way by the Department of Transportation and the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will provide information on these aspects of the incident. The public can continue to provide comments by ing all comments and questions are welcome. We want to thank the community for their participation at this forum and their interest. The goal of everyone involved in the response is to ensure the coastline is returned to the condition it was in before this oil spill. Please visit where visitors can subscribe to updated information and receive notifications about the spill response and related issues. Are beaches safe? Why were oily beaches open? All open beaches are safe for the public. The Public Health Department is receiving air and water tests results on a regular basis. The Health Officer is monitoring conditions and making decisions regarding beach safety. Health and safety are the primary goals of all involved agencies. The presence of oil or tar is not necessarily unsafe as long as the public avoids direct contact. It is best to avoid tar and oil on the land and in ocean. If you come in contact with oil or tar, clean it off with baby oil or soap and water. When the air quality, water quality or amount of materials on the beach presents unsafe conditions, they will be closed. BACKGROUND SAFETY Why weren t volunteers sent to clean the oily open beaches? The outpouring of volunteers to assist in clean-up has been heartwarming. To protect the volunteers from potential negative health impacts, training and protective gear are necessary. Volunteers were ultimately sent to beaches where there was a need for clean-up and where there was not already an adequate number of people cleaning the beach areas. What about the initial odor from the spill? There was concern about the odors and any potential health effects from the pollutants causing the odors. Two different approaches are being used to test the air as part of the response efforts. The test results are being reviewed daily. Information on the likely short

2 term and long term health effects associated with these chemicals to determine whether pollutants in the air would be expected to cause health problems. The levels of some of the pollutants that were reported may cause temporary eye, nose, or throat irritation, nausea, or headaches, but are not considered to be high enough levels to cause long-term harm. These effects should go away when levels go down or when a person leaves the area. We will continue to monitor the air and if an increase in air pollution is detected we will provide updates to the public at When will beaches reopen? Beaches will reopen when it is determined to be safe. This decision will be based on ocean and air test results as well as a review of local conditions. El Capitan State Beach will open on June 26. Where does the public go to find out if the water is safe for swimming? Beaches can be closed by the Public Health Officer if it they are determined unsafe for the public. If a beach is closed there will be signs at the beach. This information will also be on the Public Health Department website, on the incident website at and sent broadly to our community via press releases. Why wasn t the public alerted to oily beaches, specifically Memorial Day at Haskell s Beach? Multiple press releases were sent regarding public safety of the beaches. Press releases sent on May 20 and May 27 specifically speak to the safety of beaches. Oily conditions on beaches can change hourly based on wind and weather conditions. What segments of beach have been impacted and what is the extent of the damage? The beaches at Refugio and El Capitan were significantly impacted. The long-term effects will be fully recognized after clean-up and restoration activities are complete. Where can I find daily updates on the spread of the spill and actual results of air, water and land testing for contamination? A summary of the air testing results can be found at Air quality testing began May 20, 2015 and has continued on a daily basis. A summary of water sampling will be posted when it is available at OPERATIONS - CLEANUP AND RESPONSE Please describe what s happening to address the oil in the water column, on natural reefs, and in kelp beds. Responders remove oil from the kelp beds by spraying water s surface with a water cannon to create an artificial current and agitating oil from the kelp. The oil is then herded and collected. Why is the cleanup taking so long? Many environmental conditions affect where the oil is and where it goes. For instance, changes in wind patterns and tide cycles impact the oil and its movement. Much of the clean-up is by hand. How are you going to dispose of the oil? Responders remove oil from the kelp beds by spraying water s surface with a water cannon to create an artificial current and also by agitating oil from the kelp. The oil is then herded and collected. The recovered oil is being assessed and categorized, then being handled by the Environmental Protection Agency or an independent contractor, depending on its classification. Send your comments on the spill to refugiospillcomments@countyofsb.org

3 Why was there not a faster response to the spill? What is the timeline of events? Different organizations responded at different times based on when they learned of the oil spill incident. Constructing an accurate timeline will take time as there are many organizations and agencies involved in this incident. A comprehensive timeline will be part of the investigative process. Where does funding for the response come from? Plains All American Pipeline has been identified as the responsible party for the spill. As such, they are mandated to fund all of the cleanup and restoration activities. They have a toll free number (866) operating 24 hours per day to accept claims for damages. OPERATIONS - DATA AND MECHANICS Where can the public access data reflecting the current situation of our region? The most updated information on the Refugio Oil Spill can be found at A Refugio Response Snapshot is released daily and includes data on the number of wildlife affected, equipment and personnel active in the response, estimates on located oil recovered, and closures and restrictions. How does SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) work? A SCADA system is a type of pipeline safety monitoring system. Typically, sensors and control devices are placed along the length of a pipeline at strategic points, such as at valves or pumping stations. The sensors continually gather data which is transmitted back to a main control computer where the data is analyzed for consistency with pre-set operating parameters. If the sensors detect abnormal operating conditions, such as a drop in pressure or loss of flow, the system either alerts the operator, or shuts down automatically if so equipped. Do County pipelines have automatic shutdown? Not all pipelines located in Santa Barbara County have automatic shutdown systems. However, all of the pipelines similar to the Plains pipeline do have automatic shutdown systems. All pipelines coming from the platforms to shore have automatic shutdown systems, as do the main transmission pipelines that carry product from the major processing facilities to refinery destinations. The Plains line is the exception. Most pipelines in the County are inter-field pipelines which means that they connect wells to tanks, and tanks to larger transmission pipelines. What type of failure occurred? This answer be addressed when the investigation is complete. Why is the pipeline located so close to the ocean? The pipeline route was evaluated through an Environmental Impact Report process and the route was identified as the environmentally preferred route. Have there been other spills from pipelines in the County? Between , 45 crude oil spills occurred in Santa Barbara County. The total amount of crude oil released via those spills is 53,904 gallons. This includes the minimum estimated 20,160 gallons released during the Refugio Oil Spill. Before the Refugio Oil Spill, the most recent spill was in 1997, resulting from an offshore pipeline failure that leaked 8,820 barrels of oil off of Pt. Pedernales, which is off the coast of Vandenberg Air Force Base near the City of Lompoc. What is the cost of installing an automatic shutdown system? These computer systems vary in complexity and cost. A search of various oil and gas technical support web sites shows prices ranging from $1 million to $15 million.

4 OVERSIGHT AND REGULATIONS How often are Pig inspections required on pipelines in the County? Pigs perform various maintenance operations on pipeline. There are numerous types of pig inspections for the major transportation pipelines. One scrapes the inside of the pipelines to remove debris, and one applies corrosion inhibitor. A smart pig inspects the internal walls of a pipeline looking for imperfections that could result in operational failures. Smart pig surveys are dictated by code and often are required to occur once every 2 to 5 years. What are the federal requirements for pipeline inspections compared with state and county requirements? The County follows all Federal and state inspection requirements which are set by code. However, through the environmental review and permitting process, the County often includes additional inspection requirements on pipelines as an additional safeguard to ensure safe operations. WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS What, if anything, can be done to protect the grunion during full and new moons in the spill area? All cleanup operations are suspended during the night hours for overall safety concerns, so workers will not be creating additional stresses to the grunion by their presence or the presence of their lights and equipment. June would typically be open fishing season on grunion, so the ban on fishing in the oilaffected areas will additionally protect the grunion. Will the oil wash out to sea and cause long term harm? The Natural Resource Damage Assessment Process (NRDA) is currently underway. Representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration s Damage Assessment, Remediation & Restoration Program are making a more complete assessment of the spill impacts on the entire ecosystem. How many animals have been impacted? The Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) trustees include many agencies that are assessing the damage that has been done to our natural resources, including all wildlife. Over one hundred environmental samples have been collected throughout the affected area with a focus on documenting the degree of oiling in important habitats and to observe dead and oiled wildlife and other impacts. As of June 22, cleanup crews are aware of 249 birds and 164 mammals that have been affected by the spill. In addition, countless fish, invertebrates and other animals within the spill area have been affected in various degrees. Send your comments on the spill to refugiospillcomments@countyofsb.org

5 Why is so much water being used to wash animals during a drought? How much potable water has been or will be diverted to the clean up? Crews are doing everything possible to care for impacted animals and are able to clean them without the use of any potable (drinkable) water. Why is the area with plovers still so heavily oiled? Though conditions can change hourly, the beach at Coal Oil Point adjacent to the plover nesting area was cleaned by the end of the day on Friday, May 29 and daily monitoring indicates that there has been no further oiling in the area. Signs posted at the site I would like to film in the incident command or the wildlife rescue center Requests from media for video and film are accepted through the Joint Information Center. The phone number is (805) Why did it take so long to provide a public information forum on such a critical devastating issue? In the early response period, the first priority was the safety of people, protection of wildlife and the environment, and containment of the spill. To keep OTHER QUESTIONS indicated that the beach was closed through June 1, and were left in place to give the plovers additional recovery time. Because of the sensitivity of the plover nesting area, there was no attempt to remove any oiling within that area, and the five nesting plovers who displayed signs of oiling were not removed for off-site care. When can I volunteer? To volunteer, you can call California Spill Watch at (800) or visit ca.gov/spill-archive/refugio-incident/volunteer. the public informed about the spill, responders from a myriad of agencies held daily press briefings and posted information on the incident website, www. refugioresponse.com. The community forum was held 11 days after the incident which gave time to develop facts about what was learned since the incident began. The Open House was staffed by many subject matter experts serving on the response teams. Santa Barbara County appreciates the response participants who came from all over the country to assist with this effort.