What You Need to Know About the Oil Spill in Huntington Beach, California
On Friday night, the oil began to seep into the ocean. By Sunday, 3 October 2021, a full-fledged disaster had erupted in Huntington Beach, California, with over 125,000 gallons of oil washing up on the beach. We are now seeing and hearing the horrific sights and videos pouring out of California—oil-coated dying and dead fish and birds, tar balls on beaches, and oily surf rolling onto our beloved beaches. Many Californians, including me, who have witnessed numerous oil spills along this lovely coastline, have a terrible sense of déjà vu.
Ocean Conservancy has learned how vital it is to work promptly to safely plug this breach, organize local and regional resources to limit immediate ecological damages, and hold the culpable parties accountable for the ecological and economic damage.
Oil spill impacts now and later
While we are very much in the early days of this disaster, much is at risk. The kelp forests and related marine wildlife—from fish to birds to marine mammals—are world-famous, as are California beaches.
When toxic oil is dumped at the bottom of the ocean, as was the case with the BP Deepwater Horizon, it can affect the entire ocean ecosystem, from seafloor habitats to coastal marshes. Plankton, invertebrates, fish, sea turtles, and marine mammals may all be harmed as the oil rises to the surface and comes closer to shore. The images of oiled birds and dead fish that have recently made headlines show the immediate effects of oil pollution, but long-term, chronic effects are also frequent. Both Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez continue to have ecological consequences a decade and 30 years later.
This oil leak is rapidly evolving, and what we know so far pales in comparison to what we don’t yet know. But one thing is certain: the ocean, as well as the populations affected, will require our assistance for a long time.
What you can do
- Support to local cleanup efforts.
Please keep off the beach and out of the sea for the time being, even if you feel obliged to help. We must delegate control of what is a perilous situation—oil includes poisonous chemicals that are damaging to both people and marine life. If you want to help with cleanup activities in a safe way, please follow the advice of local experts. If you find injured wildlife, please resist the urge to save it and call the authorities at 877-823-6926. Please also consider donating to frontline operations that can put your money to good use by paying for essential equipment and expertise to perform wildlife rescues and other critical tasks. The City of Huntington Beach’s efforts is a good place to start.
- Hold polluters responsible
Amplify Energy Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, owns this pipeline. Amplify is responsible for the costs of containment, cleanup, and damages to natural resources, including lost fishing, surfing, and swimming opportunities, according to US law. As a result, it’s vital that local, regional, and national organizations rigorously document the event’s environmental, economic, and social consequences in order to precisely assess Amplify’s financial responsibilities. While Amplify claims to have turned off and mended the pipeline, the origin of the incident is still unknown. This raises concerns about the pipeline’s structural integrity, as well as the structural integrity of other offshore oil infrastructure off America’s shores. That is why, in the coming days, you will likely hear a growing chorus of voices calling for a halt to all offshore oil and gas drilling.
- Call for ambitious policies to tackle the climate crisis
This oil leak serves as yet another painful warning that we must act quickly to move away from fossil fuels and toward a clean, renewable energy future. Our planet faces an existential threat from the climate crisis, and business as usual is no longer an option. From the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 to the Cusco Buson spill in 2007, to the Refugio oil spill in 2015 and the Huntington spill today, Californians have seen far too many oil leaks. Offshore oil and gas development is a dangerous and risky business with far-reaching effects for our ocean and the world, according to the facts. Any new offshore oil and gas activity must be avoided, and a just and equitable transition to clean energy sources must be accelerated. Taking this brave move would help prevent another offshore oil disaster like this while also assisting in the mitigation of the climate issue. This new disaster shows that we do not have time to waste.
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