By Jennifer Chan and Maya Minwary
Staff Writers
This past January Malibu called its first oil spill in three years. A mysterious oil slick occurred offshore from as far north to Ventura County, endangering marine wildlife and birds. Experts say the oil spill was caused by oil seepage as a result from the heavy rainstorms in the area, but the true cause still remains unknown.
Although Malibu does not frequently experience this sort of problem, in the case of this situation, the city responded efficiently. Several birds and marine animals were affected in the Malibu area — a scenario that the city is well prepared for. Shortly after the oil spill had been discovered, the California Wildlife Center, located several miles inland from the ocean, was contacted about the harmed animals and it responded immediately.
The city of Malibu has contracted several outside agencies, including the Wildlife Center, fire department and sheriff’s station, to serve and protect the city when dealing with emergency situations.
Responding successfully to a future Malibu oil spill would rely on communication from the community to contact local, federal or national agencies. Once the agencies have been notified, an investigation team is sent out to determine the cause of the spill and fine the responsible parties.
“Communication is key for things to run smoothly,”said Dr. Lynn Whited, Director of Animal Care at the California Wildlife Center and Head Veterinarian.
Clean-up and animal relief commences immediately by the California Wildlife Center, which is supported by a team of volunteers. These volunteers are trained in San Pedro and are equipped with skills to alleviate the injured animals.
According to Whited, she along with her staff of volunteers serves the community to the best of their ability. The January oil spill was no exception.
“This hit us really fast. [The natural seepage] was a little more noticeable and we immediately notified the public, asking for volunteers,”Whited said.
A larger-than-normal percentage of animals were harmed from this incident. Oil poses serious threats to fresh water and marine environments and can have different effects on the animals depending on different sensitivities found in each habitat and their abilities to recuperate.
“The effects of any spill is devastating…mostly affecting marine life,”Whited said.
Birds, specifically, struggle with the impacts of any spill. According to John Albrough of the U.S. Coast Guard in San Pedro, birds are unable to regulate their body temperature when covered in oil, leading to extreme cases of hypothermia. Furthermore, when feathers are damaged by oil impacts, drowning and other catastrophic risks also increase.
“It really hits them hard—part of my job is rehabilitating the animals after they’ve been contaminated but most often, they do die,”Albrough said.
Another impeding deterrent to responding immediately to oil spills in Malibu is its isolated location from outside agencies such as the Coast Guard.
“It could take us up to an hour and a half to two hours just to get up there before we can do anything,”Albrough said, referencing traffic problems and distance as factors that would prevent them from responding more immediately.
The need for local assistance is crucial in successfully responding to the problem.
“We need manpower, public support and participation from the homeowners of Malibu,” Whited said. “They are the first line of defense.”
Whited also cited a training crash course provided locally by the Wildlife Center, in the case of a major oil spill in the area.
A few common causes of oil spills include carelessness from recreational boaters, sinking vessels, and natural seepage.
The U.S. Coast Guard or other responding party assesses monetary fines and monies collected are given directly to the Pollution Fund Center, a resource for the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA then uses these funds to pay for future clean-ups.
Criminal acts in which parties intentionally contaminate the ocean can result in increased fines, starting at $3,000. Warnings are given for some first-time offenders and tickets can range from $50 to $10,000.
The EPA has also established the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures Program that is administered through EPA’s headquarters, which is designed to prevent oil spills. The SPCC program has reduced the number of spills to less than 1% of the total volume handled each year.
Ultimately, the city of Malibu does not experience oil spills often but is dependant upon the efforts of volunteers when one does occur.
“When there’s a will, there’s a way,”Whited said. “There is a lot of opportunity at the Wildlife Center.” From grant writing to serving on the marine mammal response team, the center offers a variety of volunteer positions for anyone interested.
For further information about volunteering at the California Wildlife Center, log on to www.californiawildlifecenter.org or call (818) 222-2658.
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05-25-2005