An oil sheen that emerged last week in the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast has raised concerns about a possible oil spill, but officials with the U.S. Coast Guard have stated that the sheen does not appear to have been caused by a leak from oil rigs or ships in the area.
The sheen, which was approximately 2.5 miles long and half a mile wide, was first spotted on Thursday evening near Huntington Beach, where there are significant offshore oil operations. Initial tests conducted by the state’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response found that the oil samples collected from the sheen did not match any known sources of oil in the area.
According to Petty Officer Richard Uranga, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, the characteristics of the oil samples were more consistent with oil that naturally seeps from the sea floor rather than oil from the nearby oil rigs. However, the tests were not able to conclusively determine the origin of the oil.
Despite the findings, crews cleaned up about 85 gallons of oil offshore and removed approximately 1,050 pounds of oily sand and tar balls from the shore over the weekend. Beaches in Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City, remained open, although there was an increase in the appearance of tar balls.
Jennifer Carey, a spokeswoman for the city, stated that tar balls have been washing ashore regularly since the major oil spill in 2021. The city continues to monitor the situation and advises beachgoers to avoid areas with tar on the beach. If visitors see heavy contamination, they are encouraged to report it to a lifeguard.
The Coast Guard, along with state and local agencies, have concluded their response to the incident and will continue to investigate the source of the oil sheen to ensure the safety of the environment and the community.
