Fuel spill fouls 2 1/2 -mile stretch of Encinitas coast

Fuel spill fouls 2 1/2 -mile stretch of Encinitas coast
San Diego Union Tribune - San Diego,CA,USA
The spill was first reported around 11:30 am Thursday by a boater who
noticed a large sheen on the water about five miles offshore of Beacon's
Beach, ...

ENCINITAS – A fuel spill that has fouled the ocean off Encinitas with a four-mile-long by one-mile-wide slick has prompted the closure of miles of North County beaches and the cancellation of a large weekend surfing competition.

Lifeguards and county environmental health officials have posted signs along a 2½ -mile stretch of beaches, telling swimmers and surfers to stay out of the water for at least 24 hours.

The spill was first reported around 11:30 a.m. Thursday by a boater who noticed a large sheen on the water about five miles offshore of Beacon's Beach, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jereme Altendorf.

It started to come onshore sometime late Thursday afternoon, Altendorf said.

Grandview, Beacon's, Moonlight, Stone Steps and D Street beaches were all closed Friday morning and were expected to remain so for at least 24 hours, said Encinitas Fire Division Chief Scott Henry. Signs have been posted along paths to the beaches.

The spill hasn't reached Swami's Beach, a popular surfing spot, but officials said it's headed that way.

After sending out helicopters to survey the affected area early Friday, the Coast Guard determined the spill area is approximately four miles long by one mile wide.

The Switchfoot Bro-Am surf competition, which was scheduled for Saturday at Moonlight Beach, has been canceled but the accompanying concert is to be held as scheduled, Henry said.

The competition drew 6,000 fans last year and a similar number was expected this year, said Larry Giles, an Encinitas lifeguard captain.

No one will be allowed in the water and lifeguards will be patrolling and making announcements telling beachgoers to keep out, although people will still be allowed on the sand, Henry said.

The Coast Guard has set up a safety zone – an area that boaters will be discouraged from entering – between Batiquitos and San Elijo lagoons, out to three nautical miles offshore, said Chief Petty Officer Steve Howell. The zone will be enforced until 8 a.m. Monday.

The purpose of the zone is to keep boats from spreading the spilled fuel.

Howell said a couple of Coast Guard boats will be stationed in the area and will warn approaching boats to avoid the zone.

The spill is estimated to be between 500 to 1,000 gallons of some type of petroleum product. It smells like gasoline or diesel fuel.

Officials said their primary concern is for the public's health and safety, and they're most worried about the fumes.

Short-term exposure to fumes can make people dizzy or nauseous, long-term exposure can have detrimental health effects, Altendorf said. There have been no reports of anyone who has become ill.

“You don't want to be breathing this stuff for a long time,” he said.

Officials said anyone who has already been in the water and starts to feel sick should contact a doctor or call 911.

There has been no discernible impact on wildlife as yet, Altendorf said.

Altendorf said the Coast Guard is monitoring the spill from the air and the water. Crews have taken samples of the substance and have sent them off for analysis; they hope to have results back within a week.

They also began setting up booms to collect the spill. A kelp bed off Beacon's Beach is acting as a natural barrier right now, Altendorf said.

The Coast Guard is also checking records to identify which vessels were nearby.

“We'll be looking at anyone who was in the area during the last 24 to 36 hours,” he said, adding that some of the ships may be as faraway as Taiwan by now.

He said investigators already have a few suspect ships, but declined to elaborate.

Henry said the fire department got a call Thursday about a diesel smell that seemed to be emanating from the area of East Glaucus Street and North Coast Highway 101.

“Yesterday the smell was horrible,” he said.

As they followed it west they realized it was coming from the beach.

“This is the worst spill I have seen in my 27 years in Encinitas,” Henry said.

Sisters Colleen and Lisa Workman – along with their three young daughters – drove all the way from Phoenix Thursday just to visit Moonlight Beach. They were disappointed to find that it was closed.

"I'm bummed," Colleen Workman said, lugging a full range of beach paraphernalia, including an ice chest, towels, chairs and several beach toys. The group walked back to their car, deciding where to go next.

They thought they would head down to Mission Beach.

The trip wasn't a total disappointment though, since where they came from it was 103 degrees.

"This is perfect weather," Colleen Workman said, as she looked up at the overcast sky.

Tim Foreman, the bass player for Switchfoot, said most of the pro surfers and celebrities who were going to attend Saturday's concert are still coming. About 10 bands are scheduled to play.

Foreman said the concert benefits a program that serves homeless children and teens in crisis.