Is the mudslide sediment safe for our ocean?

State officials estimate as much as 2 million cubic yards of fire and mudslide debris still need to be removed from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The sediment from last week’s mudslide in Montecito is being dumped at two state beaches in Carpinteria and Goleta. County officials say they are inspecting each load that is delivered, and refusing any load that contains unpermitted material. But environmentalist are doing tests to make sure the sediment is indeed clean and organic.

Ben Pitterle collects sediment samples at Carpinteria State Beach. Photo credit: Jonathan Bastian