California declares state of emergency in Santa Barbara to assist oil spill response

SACRAMENTO, California – California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued an emergency proclamation Wednesday for Santa Barbara County due to the effects of an oil spill near Refugio State Beach on Tuesday.

"This emergency proclamation cuts red tape and helps the state quickly mobilize all available resources," said Governor Brown. "We will do everything necessary to protect California's coastline."

State oil spill, wildlife, emergency services and environmental field response personnel were dispatched Tuesday and are working with local government first responders in Santa Barbara County in a unified command established by federal agencies.

The Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) and the California Department of Parks and Recreation are leading state efforts to clean up hazardous material along the coast and protect sensitive habitat for the California least tern and western snowy plover, two birds listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Highly trained teams from OSPR are also working closely with experts and scientists from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network to help address environmental impacts. The state is coordinating six boom boats, three 65-ft collection vessels and hand crews to assist with cleanup efforts.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation closed Refugio State Beach and El Capitán State Beach, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed impacted fisheries, prohibiting the take of finfish and shellfish in the area.