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.
Small Business Support
The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity’s Office of Small Business is actively assisting affected businesses by providing guidance on claim preparation, documentation requirements, and submission. Impacted businesses are encouraged to book an appointment for one-on-one support with OSB by calling the regular OSB phone line at (844) 432-4900, visiting OSB’s East LA Entrepreneurship Center located at 4716 E.Cesar E. Chavez Ave., or emailing osb@opportunity.lacounty.gov.
All impacted businesses seeking assistance should indicate that their request is related to the to the East LA oil spill.
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.