In this E-Letter:
Excavation Work Begins on Next Phase of Summerland Oil Cleanup
HTO Officers Produce Films Being Screened in the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
CoAST SB Volunteer Request
HTO Sends $30,000 to County/City for Dog Bags, Welcomes Two New Sponsors into our Dog Bag Program
We're Proud to be Platinum!
EXCAVATION TO BEGIN ON NEXT PHASE OF SUMMERLAND OIL WELL CLEANUP
Treadwell #10 underwater with topside view of the well (inset) as it looked in the 1930s
BRING US YOUR STYROFOAM - TODAY & TOMORROW (Tuesday 7/30 & Wednesday 7/31 until noon)!
During the week of February 10, 2019, exploratory excavation work will begin on oil wells leaking onto Summerland Beach, as part of the planning for capping up to three more wells on and off the beach – including the notorious Treadwell #10 offshore well (pictured above). The actual capping work will take place during the months of June/July 2020. State Lands Commission staff notified Heal the Ocean of its progress report to the State Legislature, “Coastal Hazards and Legacy Oil and Gas Well Removal and Remediation Program,” which it presented in December 2019 as preparation for this next phase of the cleanup.
An EIR addendum for the project was filed by State Lands earlier this month (January 2020) to prepare for the upcoming work, which is being 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. State Lands Commission staff tells HTO that it expects to soon solicit a qualified oil and gas engineering contractor to execute the actual plug and abandonment work for the Treadwell #10, Olsson #805, and Duquesne #910 wells.
HTO BOARD MEMBERS CHARLES VINICK AND HARRY RABIN ARE SCREENING THEIR FILMS IN SBIFF
Orcas and belugas shown in captivity in Russia (photo by Harry Rabin)
Two short films about captive whales are special selections at the 2020 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and both have been produced by HTO officers.
“Cry of the Wild,” produced by On the Wave Productions/Harry Rabin, is a trailer that lays the foundation for the feature film “Cry of the Wild,” to be released in 2021. It showcases the work of the Whale Sanctuary Project, which, in partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau and working with the Russian government and Russian activists last year, helped to free nearly 100 orcas and beluga whales captured for sale to amusement parks in China.
“Whales Without Walls” features the work of the Whale Sanctuary Project founder Charles Vinick whose organization is committed to creating a seaside sanctuary where captive orcas and belugas can have a home free from exploitation as entertainment at marine parks.
SBIFF Screenings are scheduled as follows:
“Cry of the Wild”
Sunday, January 19, 5:00 PM Arlington Theatre
(Note: This is a 3-minute trailer)
“Whales Without Walls”
Thursday, January 23, 7:40 PM, Fiesta 4 Cinema, a 5-minute trailer before the feature film Whale Wisdom
Saturday, January 25, 5:20 PM, Metro 2 Cinema, before the feature film Whale Wisdom.
VOLUNTEER WITH COAST SB TO MEASURE OUR SANDY BEACHES
CoAST SB – Community Alliance for Surveying the Topography of Sandy Beaches – is looking for volunteers to conduct simple surveys on sandy beaches in Santa Barbara and Ventura. Volunteers are needed to go out once per month at low tide to document the continual changes to the beaches. The data collected will help scientists better understand the dynamics of the changing shoreline. No prior experience is necessary. Click here to view the informational flyer or email aaronhoward@ucsb.edu for more information on how to get involved.
HTO SENDS $30,000 TO COUNTY & CITY FOR DOG BAGS, AND WELCOMES SURF CONNECTION & LUKE EBBIN REAL ESTATE INTO OUR DOG BAG PROGRAM
Heal the Ocean’s Dog Bag program continues to grow…and we are thrilled to welcome Surf Connection in Lompoc to the program as well as Luke Ebbin Real Estate, Montecito/Santa Barbara. Surf Connection is Lompoc's one-stop full-service surf and skate shop, and their dispenser is at Jalama Beach County Park. Luke Ebbin Real Estate is sponsoring the dispensers at the Hot Springs & San Ysidro trailheads in Montecito. Heal the Ocean thanks these new participants, as well as ALL our sponsors, whose support made it possible for us to send the County & City almost $30,000 in 2019 to buy dog bags! Thank you, all!
A Platinum Seal of Transparency is the highest level of recognition a non-profit can receive from Guidestar, an international service that provides information to prospective donors on work, finances, transparency, etc. in the organizations they are considering. Platinum demonstrates that an organization is focused on measuring progress and results while giving potential funders the straight insight into its financial information and how donation money is spent.
HTO is one of the few non-profits in Santa Barbara County to consistently earn the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, which means your dollars go straight to our programs, from Summerland oil capping, styrofoam recycling, septic-to-sewer work, and groundwater protection, to providing Santa Barbara city and county parks with doggy bags ($30,000 in 2019 alone!).
To support Heal the Ocean's work, click here. Thank you!