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Overview of Unified CommandE28099s response efforts in Orange and San Diego Counties

Reports from trained oil observers and beach cleanup contractors working for the Unified Command show significant progress in cleanup operations. More than 1,800 personnel from around the country aided in the spill response at the height of cleanup operations; 116 local volunteers were trained and assisted in shoreline cleanup efforts. The Unified Command is cognizant of environmental impacts from response efforts and is continuously assessing its footprint. Resources will be adjusted appropriately according to mission needs. No free-floating oil has been observed on the water since Oct. 5. Containment boom, which is designed to restrict the flow of free-floating oil, significantly protected sensitive areas where it was deployed early in the response, is now being removed. On-water oil-recovery operations have ceased, and all public beaches in Orange County and San Diego County are open. Overflights have also been suspended pending any major changes in the response. The Unified Command has made the decision to use smaller, more environmentally friendly drones to conduct assessments of sensitive sanctuaries further reducing environmental impacts. Tar ball collection on Orange County beaches has decreased, and recovered tar balls are increasingly smaller in size and more dispersed. Amplify Energy has secured the pipeline from leaking. E2809CBased on data and reports from trained observers and cleanup crews who are on Orange County beaches every day, we are seeing decreasing amounts of oil and are assessing segments of beach for no further treatment,E2809D said Capt. Rebecca Ore, federal on-scene coordinator for the response. E2809CInitially we surged our response capacity to the worst-case scenario and are now working to transition to a long-term plan for tar ball recovery. E2809DE2809COnshore seafood sampling is underway to evaluate fisheries in the areas affected by the spill and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife director will reopen them upon recommendation by the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment,E2809D said Lt. Christian Corbo, state on-scene coordinator for the response. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center responded to a juvenile northern right whale dolphin found stranded at Cabrillo Beach. The difficult decision was made that humane euthanasia was best for the animal. A necropsy completed Thursday afternoon found no signs of oil inside or outside the dolphin. However, additional investigations will be made into the cause of death. To date, 32 birds have been captured, 24 have been cleaned and 8 have been rehabilitated and released. Boat decontamination sites in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach continue to operate, and a third boat decontamination site in Long Beach has been established and is operational. The public health assessment unit of the Unified Command continues to conduct water and sediment sampling with no abnormal results. Air monitoring and sampling will cease, as air samples over multiple days show all spill-related readings are within common background levels and below health-based thresholds. San Diego County Information: Assessment and cleanup teams are continuing operations in San Diego County. There are more than 100 people assessing and cleaning beaches today. Following an increase in tar ball sightings during post-storm assessments, the Unified Command surged crews to San Diego County to maximize cleanup efforts. The beaches remain open and there is no public health risk at this time. E2809COur county agencies continue to work with the Unified Command in Orange County to obtain resources for our local beaches, and things are getting done,E2809D said Stephen Rea, deputy director for the County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services. E2809CThe Unified Command has responded to our requests for additional shoreline cleanup and assessment teams after more tar balls washed up after the storm earlier in the week. U. S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego is also playing a critical role with local cleanup coordination. E2809DE2809CI greatly appreciate the community in San Diego County for reporting their concerns to help tailor the cleanup strategy and get the tar balls removed from our beaches quickly,E2809D said Capt. Timothy Barelli, the Coast Guard captain of the port of San Diego. E2809CWe will continue to assess San Diego County beaches through multiple tidal cycles to ensure we keep our shorelines safe for the public and wildlife. E2809DSpecific beach openings and closing statuses are managed by local governments. Please visit http://sdbeachinfo. com for the latest information regarding the beach status in San Diego County. Orange County Information: Contracted cleanup teams are working throughout the Orange County coastline. Specific beach openings and closing statuses are managed by local governments. Please visit www. ocgov. com/news for the latest information regarding beach status in Orange County. For more information about harbor status please...

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