Oil Spill Oozes in Orange County
After residents near Huntington Beach started to smell oil fumes on Oct. 1, it was discovered that an oil spill had occurred off the coast of California. The source of the spill was reported to be a pipe carrying oil from an offshore rig, which is currently estimated to have released around 25,000 gallons, or about 588 barrels, of crude oil (National Public Radio). The pipeline is owned by Houston-based energy company Amplify Energy Corporation (Amplify). Currently, state officials are still investigating the cause of the oil spill. However, the pipeline is suspected to have been damaged by a cargo ship’s anchor running past it several months ago, which eventually led to the pipe’s rupture. Due to the spill, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach were temporarily closed until Oct. 11 and a cleanup by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently in progress (National Public Radio).
The effects of an oil spill often impacts surrounding ecosystems (New York Times). This oil spill specifically affects the nearby salt marshes in Orange County which are particularly fragile environments due to the erosion and sediment stability issues that salt marshes usually have. Because of this, an oil spill could be devastating to current conservation efforts by local nonprofit organizations. Freshman Chiyo Shirakatl feels that the oil spill could have lasting effects on the areas affected.
“[The oil spill] is a really big problem,” Shirakatl said. “Even if they stop it, there is not really a good solution to [ensure the removal of] the oil [from the marshes]. The effects of an oil spill can last a long time.”
Talbert Marsh, a 25-acre marsh near the coast of Huntington Beach and a habitat for around 90 species of birds, was one of the most impacted marshes as a result of the oil spill, as an oily sheen is currently still visible on the surface of the water (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Oil spills can pose a risk to marine life–birds lose the water repellency of their feathers, leaving them at risk of dying of hypothermia, and fish often face reduced growth and enlarged livers, with fish eggs and larvae being particularly vulnerable. Senior Prudence Bhattarai believes that fish are an important resource for locals, so she sees the oil spill as a cause for concern.
“A lot of people rely on the fish as a source of food,” Bhattarai said. “[So,] it is important we take care of the environment [because we rely on it].”
The ocean is often used as a source of food and profit such as through fisheries and the tourism industry; thus, oil spills can cause a disruption to the people and companies near the affected area. Amplify has taken responsibility for the cost of the cleanup, as per the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and if inspections find that the oil spill was caused by neglect from Amplify, then the company could be prosecuted. However, if the inspection manages to prove that a cargo ship’s anchor caused the leak, which is the currently-suspected cause, Amplify could attempt to recover its losses from the responsible company (Associated Press). Junior Thomas Phillips knows the oil spill has both economic and environmental downsides, though he recognizes the main victim from the disaster was the environment.
“It is good to raise awareness of oil spills since not all people can see firsthand the consequences,” Phillips said. “Spills can have big effects on the environment, so it is good to call attention to [the negative effects].”
