Trinidad Rancheria commended for quick response and cleanup of oil spill in Trinidad Harbor

The Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria just issued the following statement regarding a small oil spill incident in the Trinidad Harbor parking lot. Trinidad Rancheria staff were notified this morning. There was an immediate response from the staff which included Trinidad Rancheria executives and Trinidad Mayor.

Statement:

 The Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria (Trinidad Rancheria), in coordination with the City of Trinidad, is issuing this Press Release in response to a small oil spill incident in the Trinidad Harbor Parking Lot. 

Trinidad Rancheria Executives and Trinidad City Mayor Cheryl Kelley were alerted to the incident and reported to the Harbor Parking lot to ascertain the extent of the oil spill and inspect containment and clean-up efforts.   

On March 19, 2023 at 9:15 A.M., Trinidad Rancheria staff were notified of a small oil spill in the parking lot. Staff immediately investigated this report and determined that the oil originated from a small drip leak from a customer vehicle. Harbor staff utilized Oil Spill  Response materials on site for mechanical containment of the oil, including absorbent materials and containment booms to remove spilled oil and prevent oil from entering the storm channel and the Trinidad Bay. The oil was fully contained before reaching the sand at Launcher Beach.   

The Trinidad Rancheria contacted the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services and Supervising Health Specialist Maje Hoyos responded to the site. The County inspected the containment zone and commended Harbor staff on the quick response and cleanup of the spilled oil.  The Tribe’s Environmental Department responded and contacted Cal OES to report and document the event. Clean up and containment took approximately an hour and Harbor staff are continuously monitoring the site.  

The Trinidad Rancheria works closely with Humboldt Waste Management Authority and California Department of Fish and Wildlife Oil Spill Prevention and Response to maintain oil spill response equipment and training for emergency spill response for incidents on a small scale like today as well as for larger incidents. Vice Chairman Robert Hemsted commended Trinidad Harbor staff on their swift response, noting the Tribe’s ongoing commitment to Environmental Stewardship by ensuring that staff are fully trained in vital skills such as Oil Spill Response and OSHA HAZWOPER.