California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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Avila II Oil Contamination

  • LOCATION: Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County
  • DATE: Chronic through November 2000
  • INCIDENT SUMMARY: Numerous pipeline leaks lasting several decades, under the beach and town of Avila Beach resulted in an underground plume of oil products. This eventually created a threat to public health and to the environment. Much of the beachfront section of the town was excavated in 1999-2000. Site remediation was completed on November 29, 2000.
  • RESPONSIBLE PARTY: Unocal
  • NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEES: California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Coastal Commission
  • RESOURCES IMPACTED: Recreational beach use; intertidal wildlife and habitat; birds; fish.
  • SETTLEMENT DETAILS: The trustees settled the NRDA portion of the case for $6 million. $3.5 million was allocated to compensate for recreational beach use impacts, while $2.5 million was allocated to compensate for injuries to wildlife and habitat.
  • STATUS OF RESTORATION: Restoration projects now in progress; see Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan for details.

Available Documents

Contact Information

Melissa Boggs
Email: Melissa.Boggs@wildlife.ca.gov
Phone: (805)-594-6165

Page Last Updated: July 1, 2011