{"id":114605,"date":"2021-11-03T15:41:27","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T19:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/?p=114605"},"modified":"2022-02-26T16:06:09","modified_gmt":"2022-02-26T21:06:09","slug":"california-2021-oil-spill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/california-2021-oil-spill\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Unlearned: California 2021 Oil Spill"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Lauren Hansen, Staff Researcher\/Writer at Save the Water\u2122 | November 3, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier this month, a leak in an underwater crude oil pipeline leaked thousands of gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California onto the <\/span>land and waters of the indigenous Tongva, Kizh, and Acjachemen nations<\/span><\/a> who have had a <\/span>longstanding, close relationship with this area to meet their seasonal water needs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The exact time of first reports of oil slick sightings is in dispute. However, the earliest alleged reports of oil in the water came from local harbor patrols <\/span>as early as the evening of October 1, 2021<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Amplify Energy operates the part of the pipeline where the leak occurred. According to Amplify\u2019s CEO, the <\/span>company was not aware of the oil spill<\/span><\/a> until the morning of October 2, 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So far, the most recent reports claim that the <\/span>pipeline had been damaged months prior<\/span><\/a>. Divers noticed marine growth on the pipeline to indicate earlier damage. The pipeline had been <\/span>displaced more than 100 feet<\/span><\/a>, likely as a result of a vessel dragging its anchor along the ocean floor. While this displacement had already breached the pipeline, experts believe another dragged anchor dealt the final blow. The <\/span>13-inch crack<\/span><\/a> released <\/span>tens of thousands of gallons of oil<\/span><\/a> into the ocean. Most estimates are around 25,000 gallons, but the highest estimate so far is at <\/span>144,000 gallons<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The question of who is responsible is a two-part issue. On the one hand, Amplify Energy is under fire for <\/span>potentially neglecting pipeline maintenance and failing to react<\/span><\/a> to the leak in a timely manner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beta, a subsidiary company of Amplify Energy, runs two rigs that are connected to Elly, the pipeline\u2019s main platform processing platform. Beta has been <\/span>cited over a hundred times<\/span><\/a> for violations since 1981.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, investigators are tracking GPS data to determine which ship may have dragged its anchor across the pipeline. The owners and operators of the cargo ship <\/span>MSC DANIT<\/span><\/a> are currently under investigation as potential suspects.<\/span><\/p>\n As of October 22, 2021, several dozen animals have been rescued, though some of the rescues have died. Here is a breakdown of the numbers:<\/span><\/p>\n The Oiled Wildlife Care Network of UC Davis <\/span>releases daily updates on numbers<\/span><\/a> of dead and live animals recovered.<\/span><\/p>\n Cleanup efforts have led to oil and tarballs recovered from the ocean. Below is a breakdown of the numbers:<\/span><\/p>\n This oil spill, though not as disastrous as previous ones, has led activists to once again call for improved infrastructure, more corporate accountability,<\/a> and a shift away from oil as a primary energy source.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier this year, the <\/span>Army Corps of Engineers gave the US energy infrastructure a C-<\/span><\/a> in its annual report card. <\/span>This latest spill underscores the importance of maintaining US infrastructure in general. (Related: <\/span>The Costs of Neglecting Water Infrastructure<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Lawsuits against Amplify Energy have already started rolling and are likely <\/span>going to take years to settle<\/span><\/a>. On November 3, 2021, environmental advocates announced their plans to <\/span>sue the federal government for failure to review and update plans for platforms off the coast<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n So far, around <\/span>three dozen environmental organizations<\/span><\/a> have sent a petition to the Department of Interior to suspend leases for these oil rigs to operate in federal waters.<\/span><\/p>\n As these actions continue to unfold in the wake of the spill, beach cleanup efforts will persist to restore as much of the marine ecosystem as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI),Fawn Sharp, <\/span>urges the federal government and other actors to take this opportunity<\/span><\/a> to engage with Tribal Nations to protect our natural resources and find solutions to prevent these devastating events from happening again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are a number of ways you can get involved in current and future oil-spill-related actions.<\/span><\/p>\n Coastal California residents are advised not to try cleaning up tar balls themselves. Instead, you can report a tar ball by snapping a picture of it and emailing it to <\/span>tarballreports@wildlife.ca.gov<\/span><\/a>. Include the time, date, location, and your contact information.<\/span><\/p>\n Coastal California residents can also relay environmental concerns to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network by calling (877) 823-6926.<\/span><\/p>\n The City of Huntington Beach\u2019s <\/span>online response page<\/span><\/a> includes information on how to assist with cleanup and animal rescue efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n Sign up to be trained to volunteer in future cleanup efforts by filling out this <\/span>volunteer sign-up form<\/span><\/a> or calling the volunteer hotline: <\/span>1-800-228-4544.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat caused the oil spill?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Who is to blame for the oil spill?<\/span><\/h2>\n
How has the oil spill affected the environment?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Lessons not learned: Infrastructure and our Reliance on Oil<\/span><\/h2>\n
How can you help locally or from afar?<\/span><\/h2>\n