Office of Spill Prevention & Response About OSPR Cal Spill WatchCal Spill WatchCal Spill Watch(opens in new tab) Contingency & Response Plans Drills & Exercises / ICS Enforcement Financial Responsibility Harbor Safety Laws & Regulations News & Publications Grants & Outreach Oil Spill Response Organizations Response Resources Restoration (NRDA) Science & Wildlife Spill Management Teams Volunteer Opportunities Summary Location of the Avila I spill. A park at Avila Beach. LOCATION: Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County DATE: Chronic through November 2000 INCIDENT SUMMARY: Numerous pipeline leaks lasting several decades, under the beach and town of Avila Beach resulted in an underground plume of oil products. This eventually created a threat to public health and to the environment. Much of the beachfront section of the town was excavated in 1999-2000. Site remediation was completed on November 29, 2000. RESPONSIBLE PARTY: Unocal NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEES: California Department of Fish and Wildlife. RESOURCES IMPACTED: Recreational beach use; intertidal wildlife and habitat; birds; fish. SETTLEMENT DETAILS: The trustees settled the NRDA portion of the case for $6 million. $3.5 million was allocated to compensate for recreational beach use impacts, while $2.5 million was allocated to compensate for injuries to wildlife and habitat. STATUS OF RESTORATION: Restoration projects now in progress; see Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan for details. Available Documents Final Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan (PDF) Contact Lindsey Saum Email: Lindsey.Saum@wildlife.ca.gov Phone: (831) 649-2887