(Trends Wide) — Parts of popular beaches on a swath of Southern California were closed after a pipeline rupture sent thousands of gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean and contaminated specimens of marine wildlife began to appear on the shoreline.
The rupture, reported Saturday, occurred about 5 miles off Huntington Beach, Orange County, spilling the equivalent of about 3,000 barrels, or 126,000 gallons, of post-production crude, local officials said.
Divers have been inspecting the 27 km pipeline, hoping to find the exact source of the spill, but the leak appears to have stopped, authorities said at a news conference on Sunday.
Orange County health officials issued an advisory asking residents to avoid recreational activities on the shoreline and have recommended that people who may have come in contact with the oil seek medical attention.
The city of Laguna Beach announced this Sunday night that all beaches would be closed to the public starting at 9 p.m., while Newport Beach issued a warning for people to avoid contact with ocean water and beach areas. affected by oil.
“Possible ecological disaster”
Sections of the shoreline in Huntington Beach were closed on Saturday and Mayor Kim Carr on Sunday described the spill as a “possible ecological disaster.”
“In a year that has been filled with incredibly challenging problems, this oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations our community has faced in decades,” Carr said. “We are doing everything in our power to protect health. and the safety of our residents, our visitors, and our natural habitats. “
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said Sunday that dead birds and fish were coming ashore.
“Oil has seeped into the entirety of (Talbert’s) wetlands. There are significant impacts on wildlife there,” he said. “These are wetlands where we have been working with the Army Corps of Engineers, with the Land Trust, with all community wildlife partners to make sure we create this beautiful natural habitat for decades. And now, in just one day, it’s completely destroyed. “
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) said Sunday night that more than 3,000 gallons of oil had been extracted from the water.
“Approximately 3,150 gallons of oil have been recovered from the water and 5,360 feet of barrier has been deployed,” the USCG said in a press release.
“Fourteen ships conducted oil recovery operations this Sunday afternoon … Four aircraft were dispatched for overflight assessments. The response on the ground was conducted by 105 members of the government agency staff,” according to the USCG.
The cause of the oil spill is under investigation
The pipeline is owned by Houston-based oil and gas company Amplify Energy, its president and CEO Martyn Willsher said at a news conference Sunday afternoon.
Willsher said the company was working with numerous local, state and federal agencies on recovery efforts.
“Our employees live and work in these communities, and we are all deeply affected and concerned about the impact not only on the environment, but also on fish and wildlife,” said Willsher. “We will do everything in our power to make sure this recovers as quickly as possible, and we will not be done until this is done.”
Willsher said his company notified the Coast Guard this Saturday morning when employees were conducting an inspection of the line and noticed a sparkle in the water.
Willsher said the facilities operating the pipeline were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s and are inspected every two years, even during the pandemic.
In addition, he said the pipeline has been “sucked in at both ends to prevent more crude from coming out” and does not expect more oil to be released.
The cause of the leak is unknown.
How the investigation is carried out
Eric Laughin, a public information officer for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told a news conference this Sunday: “We are still evaluating to find the source and understand it. It does not appear that there are any more fuel leaks, but we are still working to identify that. “
The federal Office of Safety, Environmental Compliance (BSEE) told Trends Wide it was assisting in the USCG-led response to the oil spill.
In a statement Sunday, the BSEE said its role was to help “identify the location and source of any spill and provide technical assistance to the Unified Command to stop the spill.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Twitter Sunday that it was sending investigators to gather information and assess the source of the oil leak.
Impacts of the spill on human health
In a health advisory, Orange County Health Care Agency county health official Dr. Clayton Chau said that the impacts of exposure to the oil could vary and that anyone experiencing adverse symptoms should contact with your doctor.
“Even when the oil glow may not be visible, there may be dispersed and dissolved oil contaminants in the water,” said Chau.
The agency said symptoms of excessive exposure to oil or dispersants could include irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat, headache, dizziness, vomiting or difficulty breathing.
“Inhaling toxic petroleum vapors or other aerosol oil compound particles from windblown waves can cause these side effects. The elderly, children, and people with respiratory illnesses such as asthma will be more susceptible to adverse side effects. from inhaling the oil fumes, “the agency said.
Trends Wide’s Sonnet Swire, Claudia Dominguez, and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report.
(Trends Wide) — Parts of popular beaches on a swath of Southern California were closed after a pipeline rupture sent thousands of gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean and contaminated specimens of marine wildlife began to appear on the shoreline.
The rupture, reported Saturday, occurred about 5 miles off Huntington Beach, Orange County, spilling the equivalent of about 3,000 barrels, or 126,000 gallons, of post-production crude, local officials said.
Divers have been inspecting the 27 km pipeline, hoping to find the exact source of the spill, but the leak appears to have stopped, authorities said at a news conference on Sunday.
Orange County health officials issued an advisory asking residents to avoid recreational activities on the shoreline and have recommended that people who may have come in contact with the oil seek medical attention.
The city of Laguna Beach announced this Sunday night that all beaches would be closed to the public starting at 9 p.m., while Newport Beach issued a warning for people to avoid contact with ocean water and beach areas. affected by oil.
“Possible ecological disaster”
Sections of the shoreline in Huntington Beach were closed on Saturday and Mayor Kim Carr on Sunday described the spill as a “possible ecological disaster.”
“In a year that has been filled with incredibly challenging problems, this oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations our community has faced in decades,” Carr said. “We are doing everything in our power to protect health. and the safety of our residents, our visitors, and our natural habitats. “
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said Sunday that dead birds and fish were coming ashore.
“Oil has seeped into the entirety of (Talbert’s) wetlands. There are significant impacts on wildlife there,” he said. “These are wetlands where we have been working with the Army Corps of Engineers, with the Land Trust, with all community wildlife partners to make sure we create this beautiful natural habitat for decades. And now, in just one day, it’s completely destroyed. “
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) said Sunday night that more than 3,000 gallons of oil had been extracted from the water.
“Approximately 3,150 gallons of oil have been recovered from the water and 5,360 feet of barrier has been deployed,” the USCG said in a press release.
“Fourteen ships conducted oil recovery operations this Sunday afternoon … Four aircraft were dispatched for overflight assessments. The response on the ground was conducted by 105 members of the government agency staff,” according to the USCG.
The cause of the oil spill is under investigation
The pipeline is owned by Houston-based oil and gas company Amplify Energy, its president and CEO Martyn Willsher said at a news conference Sunday afternoon.
Willsher said the company was working with numerous local, state and federal agencies on recovery efforts.
“Our employees live and work in these communities, and we are all deeply affected and concerned about the impact not only on the environment, but also on fish and wildlife,” said Willsher. “We will do everything in our power to make sure this recovers as quickly as possible, and we will not be done until this is done.”
Willsher said his company notified the Coast Guard this Saturday morning when employees were conducting an inspection of the line and noticed a sparkle in the water.
Willsher said the facilities operating the pipeline were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s and are inspected every two years, even during the pandemic.
In addition, he said the pipeline has been “sucked in at both ends to prevent more crude from coming out” and does not expect more oil to be released.
The cause of the leak is unknown.
How the investigation is carried out
Eric Laughin, a public information officer for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told a news conference this Sunday: “We are still evaluating to find the source and understand it. It does not appear that there are any more fuel leaks, but we are still working to identify that. “
The federal Office of Safety, Environmental Compliance (BSEE) told Trends Wide it was assisting in the USCG-led response to the oil spill.
In a statement Sunday, the BSEE said its role was to help “identify the location and source of any spill and provide technical assistance to the Unified Command to stop the spill.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Twitter Sunday that it was sending investigators to gather information and assess the source of the oil leak.
Impacts of the spill on human health
In a health advisory, Orange County Health Care Agency county health official Dr. Clayton Chau said that the impacts of exposure to the oil could vary and that anyone experiencing adverse symptoms should contact with your doctor.
“Even when the oil glow may not be visible, there may be dispersed and dissolved oil contaminants in the water,” said Chau.
The agency said symptoms of excessive exposure to oil or dispersants could include irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat, headache, dizziness, vomiting or difficulty breathing.
“Inhaling toxic petroleum vapors or other aerosol oil compound particles from windblown waves can cause these side effects. The elderly, children, and people with respiratory illnesses such as asthma will be more susceptible to adverse side effects. from inhaling the oil fumes, “the agency said.
Trends Wide’s Sonnet Swire, Claudia Dominguez, and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report.