rro 



(2 FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



were purchased and partitioned off into sumps, a main pipe line con- 

 nected the sumps with the field and operators delivered their wastes 

 into this pipe line. The system worked satisfactorily. Deeper oil sands 

 were found in Signal Hill, however, and practically without warning the 

 sumps of Oil Operators, Inc., were filled with sand. This situation was 

 met in a most energetic manner by the officers and members and in less 

 than a month a 225,000-barrel sump was in operation. At present the 

 investment by the Oil Operators, Inc., is about $225,000 and the system 

 is more than self supporting. A few operators were so little concerned 

 about oil pollution, however, that no effort was made by them to clean 

 up their properties, even after warnings and legal action were resorted 

 to. At the present time the Signal Hill field is in a good condition, but 

 inasmuch as the ground is saturated with past escaping oil, it will be 

 several years before all pollution ceases. 



In the work carried on in the Signal Hill field and vicinity, the 

 city of Long Beach has assisted the bureau whenever assistance was 

 desired. This has been of material aid and is much appreciated. 



At Huntington Beach the drilling is very congested, derricks in some 

 places touching one another. Oil escaped to the city streets and drains 

 and finally flowed to the ocean. The city was unable to cope with 

 the problem. A complete survey was made and evidence gathered, 

 followed by the filing of an injunction suit naming companies and 

 operators. Prior to the hearing of this case, certain companies cleaned 

 up and the suits as against these concerns were dismissed. Of the 

 remainder, the Court found for the Commission. The necessary legal 

 steps are being followed out to complete these cases and effect a satis- 

 factory "cleanup." In general, the improvement in the condition of 

 the field is very noticeable. 



A large portion of the oil industry is in southern California and 

 the foregoing citations are given to show; the range and form that 

 "cleanup" work takes. Even a partial listing of the work done would 

 be too lengthy for this report. As a result of the publicity that the 

 work has received some improvements have been made not directly 

 initiated by the bureau. Improvements contemplated or now under 

 way will cost approximately $1,000,000. The Public Relations Bureau 

 of the Commission has been of great help in pollution and other 

 branches of the work by giving the public the division's viewpoint. 



The Ventura oil field, a portion of which is in the Ventura River 

 channel, has been improved so that very little pollution is occurring. 

 Early in 1928 the river water and channel was so free from oil that 

 trout fry were seen in the vicinity of the derricks, a sight not previously 

 witnessed for several years. 



The Summerland oil field was inspected and it was found that oil 

 and its products were escaping into the beach sands and ocean. Con- 

 ferences with the owners failing of results, appropriate legal action 

 was instituted. It is hoped that an early determination of the cases 

 will be productive of the desired results. 



The Rincon oil field being developed on tidelands north of Ventura 

 furnishes a demonstration of what may be done to obviate and prevent 

 pollution even under adverse conditions. The Bureau conferred with 

 the operators with respect to oil pollution and the response has been 

 so satisfactory that to date no pollution has been reported from these 

 operations. 



