Volunteers Sought To Help Clean Up Santa Barbara-Area Beaches Fouled By Oil Spill
GOLETA (CBSLA.com) — Officials have put a call out for volunteers to help clean up an oil spill along a stretch of pristine beach in Santa Barbara County.
Since a pipe ruptured spilled more than 100,000 gallons of oil into the waters off Refugio State Beach on May 19, volunteers affiliated with groups like the Santa Barbara County Community Emergency Response Team and California Conservation Corps have helped clear oil and rescue animals.
Oil has blackened the beaches and created a 10-square-mile slick in the ocean, in spite of 10,000 gallons of oily water being recovered from the spill area.
Volunteers are being sought to assist with beach clean-up and various tasks over the next several days.
Officials say volunteers must be at least 18 years old, in good health and complete the volunteer registration form before they can attend one of Thursday's training sessions, which have only 100 slots open for each session.
Volunteer beach cleanup days are scheduled this weekend, but only those who complete the hazard safety communication training are eligible to participate in beach cleanup, officials said.
