Cleanup teams have determined 44 per cent of 96.5 miles of California coastline clear of oil from the Refugio Oil Spill.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Alexia Retallack says Sunday that these mostly sandy beaches only have trace amounts, or less than 1 per cent of oil.
She says tar is naturally found through seeps at Southern California beaches and should be avoided.
Cleanup efforts span from northern Santa Barbara County into Ventura County. What's left is more intensive and includes cobbled beaches.
Oil blackened beaches in the area and created a 10-square-mile slick in the ocean after the onshore pipeline leaked up to 101,000 gallons on May 19.
The spill has killed one sea lion, nine pelicans and untold numbers of fish. El Refugio and El Capitan beaches remain closed.
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