East LA Oil Spill Notice (English and Spanish)
Report to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on the Oil Spill
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As required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Plains All-American has conducted soil sampling in the vicinity of the pipeline break and is preparing a Soil Investigation Report which is due to the Water Board and County Agencies by August 31, 2026. The report will provide testing results and recommend next steps for remediation. The County will work with the Regional Water Quality Control Board to determine the level of remediation that is required and if additional testing is needed. The information will be reviewed to ensure that any necessary remediation activities are properly identified and planned.
Incident Summary: East Los Angeles Oil Spill
An underground crude oil pipeline broke on May 22, 2026, near Eastern Avenue and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue when a private telecommunications crew for HP Communications, Inc. was installing fiber-optic cable.
The spill released an estimated 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the ground and nearby storm drains, leading to immediate emergency response work and street closures. The pipeline has been shut down, and crews excavated and repaired the line.
The damaged section of pipeline has been fully repaired. Surface streets and nearly 3.4 miles of storm drain were carefully cleaned, allowing roads to reopen safely for our community. Additionally, teams from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network have successfully cleaned and treated affected wildlife recovered from the Los Angeles River corridor.
LA County agencies continue to review environmental testing data to ensure all site remediation activities to date meet or exceed public safety standards. We remain dedicated to protecting residents and businesses, the environment, and the well‑being of everyone who calls this community home.
Stay Informed
A hotline has been established to provide the community with updates and resources, at 1-800-998-1524.
Recovery Resources
Please refer to Los Angeles County Public Works’ Road Closure website for the latest information.
Help for Small Businesses and Workers
In response to the East Los Angeles Oil Spill, the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is connecting impacted businesses, workers, and youth with recovery resources.
DEO’s Office of Small Business (OSB), located at the County’s East LA Entrepreneur Center, is providing businesses with up-to-date information, one-on-one technical assistance, referrals to legal and capital resources, and guidance on preparing documentation for claims, loans, and grants.
Businesses may walk in or schedule an appointment with OSB at 4716 E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90022, Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Call (844) 432-4900 or email osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov with “East LA Oil Spill Support” in the subject line.
DEO’s East LA/West San Gabriel Valley America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) is also providing impacted workers with Rapid Response assistance, unemployment and public benefits navigation, job placement and training, transitional subsidized employment, and supportive services, such as transportation, childcare, work attire, and equipment. Paid work experiences and job-readiness support through LA County’s Youth@Work Program are also available for young adults.
Jobseekers and workers may walk in to the AJCC at 5301 Whittier Blvd., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90022, Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM. Call (323) 887-7122 and indicated “East LA Oil Spill Support.”
Workers, businesses, and community members can find the latest information, in-field locations, and programs and services at: opportunity.lacounty.gov/emergency.
Air Quality
Testing by LA County Public Health showed no elevated benzene levels that would pose a threat to the public.
You can report odors directly to the South Coast Air Quality Management District by calling 1-800-288-7664 or visiting aqmd.gov/complaints.
FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
An underground petroleum pipeline broke on May 22, 2026, near Eastern Avenue and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue when a private telecommunications crew for HP Communications, Inc. was installing fiber-optic cable.
The spill released an estimated 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the ground and nearby storm drains, leading to immediate emergency response work and street closures.
Crews for the Responsible Party (Plains All-American) successfully repaired the damaged section of pipeline. Initial cleanup of oil on street surfaces, nearly 3.4 miles of storm drain, and the Los Angeles River was completed prior to the road reopening.
Teams from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network have also successfully treated and cleaned affected wildlife recovered from the Los Angeles River corridor.
A multi-step remediation process is now underway. As required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Plains All-American has conducted soil sampling in the vicinity of the pipeline break and is preparing a Soil Investigation Report, which is due to the Water Board and County agencies by August 31, 2026.
The report will provide testing results and recommend next steps for remediation. County agencies will review the information to ensure that any necessary remediation activities are properly identified, planned, and meet or exceed public safety standards.
Temporary lane closures may be needed in the coming weeks to support additional underground soil testing if needed.
Broader lane or street closures may be implemented as full remediation work moves forward.
LA County Public Works will work closely with the community to notify residents in advance of any upcoming closures.
Testing by LA County Public Health showed no elevated benzene levels that would pose a threat to the public.
When digging begins, fumes or odors may get stronger while crews remove material or complete repair work.
You can report odors directly to the South Coast Air Quality Management District by calling 1-800-288-7664 or visiting aqmd.gov/complaints.
During remediation, if you experience any symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and dizziness, or breathing problems (asthma) contact your medical provider and report odors to AQMD.
Brief exposures to the odors associated with an oil spill usually do not cause long term health effects, but if you experience severe or persistent symptoms, talk to your medical provider. If you don’t have a medical provider, call the Public Health Infoline at 1-833-540-0473, open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Remediation work is a multi-agency effort overseen by LA County and several state and local regulatory agencies.
These include the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles Department of Public Health, Los Angeles County Public Works, and the party responsible for the incident.
Los Angeles County will file financial claims against the Responsible Party for recovering all costs for emergency response and long-term remediation work.
The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is offering free, one-on-one help to affected local businesses. DEO staff can guide business owners through every step of filing a financial claim with Pacific Pipeline System—from gathering all necessary documentation to submitting claim forms and acquiring resolution.
Updated information on remediation activities, along with the latest resources available to impacted residents and businesses can be found on the LA County Recovery website: East Los Angeles Oil Spill – LA County Recovers
For additional questions or comments, residents and businesses can call the toll-free number 1-800-998-1524.
Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)
Una tubería subterránea se rompió el 22 de mayo de 2026 cerca de Eastern Avenue y Cesar E. Chavez Avenue cuando un equipo de trabajo privado de telecomunicaciones de HP Communications Inc. realizaba una instalación de cables de fibra óptica.
El derrame liberó aproximadamente 25,000 galones de petróleo crudo al suelo y a los drenajes pluviales cercanos, lo que dio lugar a una respuesta de emergencia inmediata y al cierre de calles.
Las cuadrillas de la parte responsable, Plains All-American, repararon con éxito la sección dañada de la tubería. Antes de la reapertura de las calles, se completó la limpieza inicial del petróleo en la superficie de las calles, casi 3.4 millas de drenaje pluvial y el río Los Ángeles.
Los equipos de Oiled Wildlife Care Network también atendieron y limpiaron con éxito a la vida silvestre afectada que fue recuperada en el corredor del río Los Ángeles.
Actualmente está en marcha un proceso de remediación de varias etapas. Conforme a los requisitos de la Junta Regional de Control de Calidad del Agua, Plains All-American realizó muestreos de suelo cerca del área donde ocurrió la ruptura de la tubería y está preparando un Informe de Investigación del Suelo, que deberá presentarse ante la Junta del Agua y las agencias del Condado a más tardar el 31 de agosto de 2026.
El informe incluirá los resultados de las pruebas y recomendará los próximos pasos de la remediación. Las agencias del Condado revisarán esta información para determinar qué trabajos adicionales pueden ser necesarios, planificarlos adecuadamente y confirmar que cumplan o superen los estándares de seguridad.
Es posible que en las próximas semanas se requieran cierres temporales de carriles para realizar pruebas del suelo subterráneo.
A medida que avancen las labores completas de remediación, podrían implementarse cierres adicionales de carriles o de calles.
El Departamento de Obras Públicas del Condado de Los Ángeles trabajará de cerca con la comunidad para notificar a los residentes con anticipación sobre cualquier cierre programado.
Las pruebas realizadas por el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Los Ángeles no detectaron niveles elevados de benceno que representen un riesgo para la salud pública.
Cuando comiencen las excavaciones, los vapores u olores podrían intensificarse mientras las cuadrillas retiran material o realizan trabajos de reparación.
Puede reportar los olores directamente al Distrito para el Manejo de la Calidad del Aire de la Costa Sur (South Coast AQMD) llamando al 1-800-288-7664 o visitando su página web aqmd.gov/complaints.
Durante las labores de remediación, si presenta síntomas como irritación en los ojos, la nariz o la garganta, dolor de cabeza, mareos o problemas para respirar (como asma), comuníquese con su proveedor de atención médica y reporte los olores al South Coast AQMD.
La exposición breve a los olores relacionados con un derrame de petróleo generalmente no causa efectos a largo plazo en la salud. Sin embargo, si presenta síntomas fuertes o que no desaparecen, comuníquese con su proveedor de atención médica. Si no cuenta con un proveedor médico, llame a la Línea de Información de Salud Pública al 1-833-540-0473, disponible todos los días de 8 a.m. a 8 p.m.
Las labores de remediación son un esfuerzo conjunto en el que participan varias agencias y que está supervisado por el Condado de Los Ángeles, junto con diversas agencias reguladoras estatales y locales.
Estas incluyen la Junta Regional de Control de Calidad del Agua, el Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Los Ángeles, el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Los Ángeles, el Departamento de Obras Públicas del Condado de Los Ángeles y la parte responsable del incidente.
El Condado de Los Ángeles presentará reclamaciones financieras contra la parte responsable para recuperar todos los costos relacionados con la respuesta de emergencia y las labores de remediación a largo plazo.
El Departamento de Oportunidades Económicas del Condado de Los Ángeles (DEO) ofrece asistencia gratuita e individualizada a los negocios locales afectados. El personal del DEO puede orientar a los propietarios de negocios durante todo el proceso de presentación de una reclamación financiera ante Pacific Pipeline System, desde la recopilación de la documentación necesaria hasta la presentación de los formularios de reclamación y la resolución del proceso.
Puede encontrar información actualizada sobre las actividades de remediación, junto con los recursos más recientes disponibles para los residentes y negocios afectados, en el sitio web de recuperación del Condado de Los Ángeles: East Los Angeles Oil Spill – LA County Recovers
Si tiene preguntas o comentarios adicionales, llame a la línea directa al 1-800-998-1524.