A leak in an offshore platform has spilled 120,000 gallons of oil into southern California waters The oil slick has come ashore, fouling Huntington beach and critical wetlands for migrating birds.
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In Huntington Beach, the spill led to the cancellation of a popular air show that drew 1.5 million visitors Saturday to allow the cleanup to begin.
"We're aware that oil has hit the beach ... and it also appears that oil has infiltrated the Talbert Marsh," Huntington Beach Mayor Kim Carr told reporters, referring to a wetland that is home to about 90 bird species.
According to the nonprofit organization that looks after the wetland, it is used by thousands of birds as a rest stop during their long migrations from their nesting grounds in the Arctic to their wintering grounds in South America.
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The rig started to leak Friday and was reported by lifeguards who indicated that they smelled significant oil odors in the area. Crews remained onsite overnight Sunday trying to assist with the clean-up, as dead birds and fish coated in oil started to wash ashore.
“As we recognize the gravity of this situation, we recognize how serious this is, and we are and will continue to fight this with all of our collective resources to ensure that we avert this from becoming a major environmental disaster here in our community,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris of Orange County.
Foley said as of Sunday she has been told by Huntington Beach that the wildlife in the Talbert wetlands has been “dramatically impacted.”
“Wildlife is dying. It’s very sad. We do have reports of dead animals along the shore, washing up upon the shore at the Huntington Beach State beach area as well as wildlife within the Marsh and wetlands is dying,” Foley said.
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How much oil has spilled?
Officials say at least 126,000 gallons. As of Sunday morning, officials said the leak was patched but not completely stopped.
“While the leak has not been completely stopped, preliminary patching has been completed to repair the oil spill site. Additional repair efforts will be attempted in the morning. At this time, due to the toxicity created by the spill, the city is asking that all individuals remain clear of the beach and avoid coming into contact with oiled areas,” Huntington Beach officials said Sunday morning.
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“It’s still leaking and the responsible party for this is underway right now trying to repair the leak from the pipeline,” Foley said. “But please do not go in the water. I see that there are still some people out here fishing. This is a toxic area. You should not be fishing out here, and we should stay at least 50 feet from the shore.”
Foley added that the county has received reports of fish and birds washing up dead on the shore.
“We’re asking people to avoid going to the beach and to not touch the animals… because it is toxic,” Foley said.
Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are asking residents to not attempt to help the animals affected by the oil spill, and to report any animal sightings to the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at 877-823-6926.
Meanwhile, back in Washington Joe Manchin is trying to stop Joe Biden’s Build Back Better programs to transition America away from dirty fossil fuels to renewable energy. Enough is enough.
I grew up washing tar off of my feet with alcohol after going to the beach in southern California because minor spills happen routinely in southern California waters. This particular platform, however, has had significant spills in the past and this spill was inevitably going to happen some day because all oil pipelines eventually develop leaks. Oil and water don’t mix and it’s past time we fully fund the transition to clean energy, Joe Manchin be dammed, so these spills stop happening.