Initial UC Statement on Newport Beach oil spill response

 A unified command has been established to respond to an oil spill reported to be approximately 13 square miles in size, 3 miles off the coast of Newport Beach.

The unified command consists of Beta Offshore, the Coast Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW-OSPR). Supporting agencies are the cities of Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach, and the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The Coast Guard received an initial report of an oil sheen off the coast of Newport Beach Saturday at approximately 9:10 a.m. 

The Coast Guard and Huntington Beach Police Department have dispatched aircraft to access the situation. 

CDFW-OSPR is monitoring for oiled wildlife. If anyone encounters oiled wildlife, do not approach. Call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 1-877-823-6926.

Members of the public are asked to avoid any oiled areas. Trained spill response contractors are working to clean up oil. Public volunteers are not needed and could hinder response efforts. We request that members of the public stay away from the area.

The cause of the spill, volume and type of oil are under investigation.