California Beaches Closed After Pipeline Failure Caused ‘Devastating’ Oil Spill
An estimated 126,000 gallons leaked from an underwater pipeline.
On Saturday at least 126,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean after a pipeline failure that occurred off the coast of Orange County, California. The spill is one of the largest in recent state history.
The rig was operated by Beta Offshore, a subsidiary of Amplify Energy and one of the largest oil producers in Southern California.
At a press conference Martyn Willsher, Amplify Energy CEO announced that the pipeline had been shut off and that remaining oil had been removed. Divers were still trying to determine the exact location and cause of the spill.
On Sunday fourteen boats were used in an effort to remove the heavy crude oil, as The New York Times reported.
In the meantime the spill caused dead fish and birds to wash ashore in some places.
The oil, which created a slick that extended 5,7 miles from Huntington to Newport Beach, will most likely continue to wash up on shore for several days, affecting wildlife and communities.
Endangered species such as humpback whales and the plump shorebird inhabit the areas that were affected by the spill.
“In a year that has been filled with incredibly challenging issues this oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations that our community has dealt with in decades,” Huntington Beach mayor, Kim Carr told The Guardian. “We are doing everything in our power to protect the health and safety of our residents, our visitors and our natural habitats.”
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