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Underground Pipeline Leaks Oil On Busy Cerritos Avenue In Cypress

CYPRESS (CBSLA.com)   —  Crews on Wednesday evening worked to clean up an oil leak in Cypress.

The oil seeped to the surface near busy Cerritos Avenue and Valley View Street.

KCAL9's Rachel Kim reported from the scene.

Public Works officials told her only about 15 or so gallons made it up to the street from the broken underground pipe.

But it was enough to get crews to close down the street and rip up asphalt in an effort to find the leak.

As the oil continued to bubble up from below, crews kept vigilant on the cleanup effort.

There are two pipes underground and the crews are also trying to determine which one is responsible.

Henry Villegas, owner of Integrity Transmissions, said the spill affected his bottom line.

"Getting customers in has been kind of difficult," he said, "I've been trying to manage that all day."

The spill has occurred alongside his business. But his concerns go beyond that.

"You're not sure if this is only happening in the street or is this happening underneath your property, as well," Villegas said, "Also, the traffic driving by. definitely worried about a couple of different things going on there."

One pipe belongs to Chevron, the other to Plains All American, Kim reported.

A pipe belonging to Plains All American burst in May in Santa Barbara County sending nearly 143,000 gallons of crude into the ocean.

Because the oil leak in Cypress is potentially flammable, a HazMat team and foam tender are at the ready, say officials.

"A possibility of a fire is our worst concern," said Orange County Fire Authority Battalion Chief William Mattern, "that once we start opening the street, there could be some flammable liquid there but as of right now, we don't see that happening."

Police said Cerritos Avenue will likely be closed through the morning commute from Holder to Valley View so they are asking commuters to plan accordingly.

 

 

 

 

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