Huntington Beach reopening after oil spill shut it down last week

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Huntington Beach will reopen its shoreline this morning after water testing results came back with non-detectable amounts of oil associated toxins in ocean water, city officials and California State Parks announced.

State and local beaches will open at 6:00 a.m. Monday, just over a week after an oil pipeline spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean. Officials say they have recovered at least 5,544 gallons of oil and 13.6 barrels of tar balls. They say in a worst-case scenario, more than 131,000 gallons may have spilled into the waters.

"The health and safety of our residents and visitors is of the utmost importance. We understand the significance our beaches have on tourism, our economy, and our overall livelihood here in Huntington Beach," said Huntington Beach Mayor, Kim Carr in a press statement. "It is important that our decision to reopen our shoreline and water be based on data and that we continue to monitor the water quality going forward."

Beachgoers should remain vigilant for noxious smells and avoid areas with oiled materials and tar balls.

The Oiled Wildlife Network (OWCN) reports 65 birds recovered in total, 38 of which were found dead. The OWCN also reports nine dead fish.

Senator Alex Padilla and California Attorney General Rob Bonta will be in Orange County Monday afternoon for an oil spill briefing, site visit, and media availability

Source CNN