Sewage spill closes 3 Newport beaches

The Orange County Health Care Agency closed a section of Upper Newport

Bay to swimming and diving Tuesday morning because of a sewage spill.

The area of Dover Shores -- including Morning Star Beach and Evening

Star Beach -- was shut down at 8 a.m.

About 400 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the bay because a Costa

Mesa Sanitary District line was blocked.

The affected area will remain closed to contact sports until the

results of follow-up testing reveal acceptable levels of bacteria.

The closures usually last at least 72 hours.

A 4:30 p.m. sewage spill convinced the Health Care Agency on Tuesday

to also close Harbor Patrol Beach south to Rocky Point Beach. A grease

interceptor that malfunctioned at the Brio Restaurant caused the spill,

officials said.