Greetings!

This week has been difficult for our Orange County community. The oil spill is a major crisis affecting coastal wildlife, the local tourism economy, and residents. In case you missed it, I sent a message earlier this week with updates and resources.

My team and I are closely monitoring this situation and will continue to share updates with our community as we receive them. For the latest news and updates, you can connect with my official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
Oil Spill Resources
I’ve set up a page on my website with oil spill resources. Here is a list of some of the resources available for residents:

  • Health-related questions – Orange County Health Care Agency: (714) 834-2000
  • General oil spill inquiries – Huntington Beach Oil Spill Hotline: (714) 374-1702
  • Report wildlife concerns – Oiled Wildlife Care Network (877) 823-6926
  • Boat damage claims – Global Risk Solutions (866) 985-8366 and reference the Pipeline P00547 Incident
  • Volunteer opportunities – Cal Spill Watch: https://calspillwatch.wildlife.ca.gov/volunteer
  • Details on Unified Command Response/Investigation: www.socalspillresponse.com
Taking Action to Protect our Coastline
I am so thankful for all of those working around the clock to keep our wildlife and community safe. Here’s what I’ve been doing this week in the wake of the OC oil spill.

Sent a letter to President Biden requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for Orange County. Read the full letter here. 

Joined the U.S. Coast Guard for an aerial tour of the spill
Hosted a conference call with local elected officials, organizations, and the U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander to get an update on the spill and next steps. 

Sent a letter to Governor Newsom urging him to formally request a Major Disaster Declaration from the Biden Administration. Read the full letter here.

Sent a letter to President Biden requesting a federal investigation into the spill. We need answers on Amplify’s history of violations, the true causes of the spill, and any delays by federal officials in their response. Read the full letter here. 

Visited Talbert Marsh and the Wetlands and Wildlife Center to get an update on wildlife cleanup operations 
Sent a letter to Amplify Energy's CEO demanding they pay for all response costs and cooperate with the U.S. Coast Guard in cleanup efforts. Read the full letter here.
Upcoming Deadlines: Service Academy and App Challenge
Do you know a high school student who is interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy? My office is accepting applications until November 1, 2021. If you have questions about the application process, click here or call my Huntington Beach Office at 714.960.6483.
The deadline for the Congressional App Challenge is also a few weeks away! This is a great opportunity for middle and high school students to explore opportunities in STEM. Winning students are invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, D.C. Visit my website for more information on the competition.
In the News
'Major' Oil Spill Off California Coast Threatens Wetlands and Wildlife
In a letter on Sunday, Representative Michelle Steel, a Republican who represents much of Orange County, asked President Biden to issue a major disaster declaration in response to the spill. Read more. 
OC oil spill: Oil rig operators waited 3 hours to shut off damaged pipeline, report says
"This is absolutely unacceptable,'' Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Huntington Beach, tweeted. "We need to know what actions were taken and why we weren't alerted sooner. We are facing a real crisis and I'll be requesting a full investigation.'' Read more. 
Major oil spill closes OC beaches, kills wildlife in Huntington Beach
U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-48), whose district includes Huntington and Newport beaches and other coastal cities, said she asked President Biden on Sunday to approve disaster relief. Read more. 
Sincerely,
Rep. Michelle Steel
Member of Congress