The cleanup barge arrives Tuesday afternoon to Summerland Beach (Photos: Harry Rabin/On the Wave Productions/ Heal the Ocean)

By edhat staff

An oil cleanup barge arrived off the coast of Summerland on Tuesday to begin the next phase of oil capping.

The Global Marine barge is carrying oil cleanup equipment and bringing in contractors to begin exploratory excavation on a leaking well, “North Star,” on Summerland Beach.

State Lands Commission officials are conducting the excavation project as part of their plan to cap up to three wells in June or July of this year. Two of the wells are on the beach and the other is Treadwell #10 offshore.

"Heal the Ocean has been maintaining close contact with State Lands officials to spur on the project, which has been mapped out by InterAct engineers with the help of HTO Advisory Board member Harry Rabin whose On the Wave Production Company has been a technological boost to the InterAct engineers in accurately pinpointing wellheads. Harry is also documenting the work as it progresses," said Hillary Hauser of the local nonprofit Heal the Ocean.

North Star oil spillage on Summerland Beach (Photo: Harry Rabin/On the Wave Productions/HTO)

The well-capping is being paid for out of funds from SB 44 "Coastal Oil Well Cleanup and Remediation," authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson to fund the cleanup of abandoned oil wells and other hazards on the coast of California.

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