Last Stretch of Shoreline Sullied by Oil Spill Is Reopened

The final stretch of Huntington Beach shoreline fouled by the American Trader oil spill was reopened Wednesday, five weeks after the tanker spewed 394,000 gallons of Alaskan crude into the ocean and caused Orange County’s worst environmental disaster.

A 2 1/2-mile span of shoreline from Golden West Street to lifeguard headquarters at Bolsa Chica State Beach was declared safe and open to the public, marking the end of a cleanup operation that has cost nearly $20 million so far.

The spill from the tanker killed more than 712 birds. It also cost seaside businesses, particularly charter boat operators trapped in harbors that were sealed off for weeks, thousands of dollars in revenue.

In two weeks, Coast Guard officials are expected to issue a preliminary report on their investigation. The ship ran over its anchor, which punched two holes in its hull, while attempting to moor shortly after a record low tide at an offshore pipeline terminal.

Referring to the cleanup operation, Huntington Beach Lifeguard Capt. Bill Richardson said, “We can close the books on this chapter. All beaches are open--and they look great. Now, maybe we can think--and talk--about something other than oil.”

At the height of the cleanup, nearly 1,500 workers were stationed along 20 miles of shoreline raking, mopping and vacuuming up the noxious oil.

Even as Huntington Beach Mayor Thomas J. Mays declared at an afternoon press conference that “we’re back in business,” British Petroleum was sending its sizable team of spill coordinators, financial auditors and biologists home to Cleveland. It was British Petroleum’s oil that spilled from the American Trader.

A Southern California firm, ASI Inc., has been hired by British Petroleum to monitor beaches in the coming weeks for new oil discoveries. “We will continue to be responsive to any problems,” said British Petroleum spokesman Chuck Webster, “but we don’t believe there will be any.”

Along the final 2,000-yard stretch of beach that opened Wednesday, Webster said health tests revealed that petroleum hydrocarbon counts averaged 11 parts per million. Experts consider counts above 100 parts per million to be unsafe.

None of the county’s saltwater marshes--areas of concern because they provide nesting havens for migratory fowl--were seriously damaged by oil.

(Southland Edition) SPILL TOLL

394,000 gallons of Alaskan crude were spilled Feb. 7 from the tanker American Trader.

20 miles of Orange County shoreline were closed, some for as long as five weeks.

712 birds died; another 309 were injuried.

$19.5 million has been spent on the cleanup; final costs could top $22 million.

1,500 workers were employed by British Petroleum, which owned the oil, at the height of the cleanup effort.

9,000 tons of booms, towels and pompon-like devices were used to soak up oil.