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Spills and Events
Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDA)

 

Torch/Platform Irene Oil Spill

A picture of a very heavily oiled bird

LOCATION offshore and coastline, northern Santa Barbara County
DATE September 28, 1997
INCIDENT SUMMARY An undersea pipeline, linking the offshore oil platform Irene with the mainland, ruptured, releasing oil into the ocean. This oil formed surface slicks and washed ashore, primarily at Surf Beach, Vandenberg Air Force Base.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY Torch Operating Company
NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEE California Dept. of Fish and Game; California State Lands Commission; United States Fish and Wildlife Service; United States Dept. of Defense (Vandenberg Air Force Base)
RESOURCES IMPACTED birds (over 700 estimated killed); sandy and rocky shoreline habitat; recreational beach use
SETTLEMENT DETAILS The trustees settled the NRDA portion of the case for $1.9 million.
STATUS OF RESTORATION October 2007 Final Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment complete; restoration project planning in progress

AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS:

Scoping Document for Restoration Planning For Public Review and Comment - October 20, 2004

News Release: Public Workshop for Platform Irene Oil Spill Restoration to be held April 19 (04-14-06)

April 19, 2006 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment Workshop Agenda

Final Torch Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment - October 24, 2007

For more information, contact Melissa Boggs-Blalack at OSPR at mboggs@ospr.dfg.ca.gov.

The Torch Trustee Council administrative record can be viewed at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office located at 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003 and phone is (805) 644-1766.