TimesOC: Companies charged in October oil spill off coast of O.C.
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It’s Friday, Dec. 17. I’m Ben Brazil, bringing you the latest roundup of Orange County news and events.
Months after about 25,000 gallons of oil spilled into Orange County coastal waters, a federal grand jury on Wednesday charged three companies with criminal negligence in connection with the environmental catastrophe.
In a three-page indictment, Amplify Energy Corp. and two subsidiary firms, Beta Operating Co. and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Co., discharged oil off of Huntington Beach that was “in a quantity that may be harmful to the public health, welfare and environment of the United States,” according to the charges.
Reporters Richard Winton, Laura Nelson and Thomas Curwen wrote that the indictment describes the confusion and disorder that followed as crews tried to respond to alarms from a leak detection system while trying to keep the flow of oil through the pipeline. The alarms began nearly 16 hours before Amplify Energy’s chief executive said the company was aware of a leak.
The charges include that the underwater pipeline was being operated by “an understaffed and fatigued crew,” who “had not been provided sufficient training regarding the pipeline’s automated leak detection system,” the reporters wrote.
“I am outraged by the complete and utter failure of Amplify Energy to do their job,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach). “Their absolute negligence caused devastation in our coastal community. This was not a freak incident — someone here is to blame, and justice will be served.”
The indictment also describes that crews working on the pipeline were aware of the leak earlier than their companies had initially reported.
“It is very distressing that Amplify lied so many times to the public officials, the community and reporters,” said Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents the area impacted by the spill. “Many of us were questioning the veracity of their statements from the beginning. They will be held accountable. They can’t hide from their lies anymore.”
The charge of negligently discharging oil carries a maximum penalty of five years of probation, as well as fines of potentially millions of dollars.
William Carter, a former federal prosecutor of environmental crimes, said that this is the same charge as in Exxon Valdez, referencing one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history.
“This is a smart way for the federal government to proceed,” Carter said.
MORE NEWS
Employees of Republic Services have been on strike since last week due to alleged unfair labor practices, which has caused disruptions to waste hauling services in some areas in Orange County. This week, Huntington Beach declared a local emergency in response to the labor dispute. Reporter Lilly Nguyen wrote that this will allow the city to issue limited and temporary permits to a company to perform trash collection.
Following a COVID-19 outbreak at Travis Ranch School in Yorba Linda, sixth-graders were sent home this week to prevent the spread of the virus. Yet, as my colleague Gabriel San Román wrote, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District is seeking to oppose a vaccine mandate.
Almost two years ago, Orange County jails stopped serving hot meals. Since then, the ACLU and other advocates have been putting pressure on the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to start serving substantial warm meals again. A new report from a coalition of advocates may shed some light on the food conditions in the jails since the pandemic started. The report contends that inmates have been served cold, nutritionally inadequate and rotting foods.
In the grip of winter and with a new coronavirus variant baring down, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased across Southern California. Since Nov. 23, hospitalizations have jumped 15% in Orange County. Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, a deputy health officer in Orange County, said that hospitals are strained and a winter surge could overwhelm medical care in the county.
Homeless people have been dying of drug overdoses at a record pace in Orange County. Meanwhile in Santa Ana, a business that provides care to homeless people and drug users may have to shut down as the city threatens to revoke its occupancy permit. But the founders of the Harm Reduction Institute at the American Addiction Institute of Mind and Medicine are not going quietly. They contend that the institute performs an essential function for the city’s homeless population by providing counseling, clean syringes, wound care and the lifesaving opioid reversal drug, naloxone, to people who rely on the resources for survival.
LIFE AND LEISURE
After 40 years in Anaheim, the iconic German restaurant, Jägerhaus, closed just months after its owner died. The restaurant served traditional German dishes like szegdiner goulash and holstein schnitzel and it served beers from two of the world’s oldest breweries, with Weihenstephan lager, established in 1040, and Weltenburger, established in 1050. My colleague Sarah Mosqueda has the story.
It’s no secret that comic book culture has taken hold over the last several years with the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC films. Orange County has its own share of comic book stores, with Comics, Toons & Toys in Tustin and Torpedo Comics in Irvine. Mosqueda runs through the various stores and how they’ve managed to stick around over the decades in O.C in her article this week.
Johnny Mathis, the legendary “Voice of Christmas,” will be performing a Christmas concert at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Dec. 21. The singer is still going strong at 86 years old.
Mujeres Market — which features women of color, queer and transgender creators and artists — is coming to Santa Ana on Dec. 19. Mónica Virgen Zamora, chief executive director of Mujeres Market, said that the market will largely feature the works of local artists, which is a draw for people who want to support their community. “It feels good to know that you went shopping but also that it is directly contributing to somebody’s house, family, going back straight into your community,” said Salvadorian poet Yesika Salgado.
More than 25 art pieces are on display at Goodwill of Orange County campus in Santa Ana. The works include paintings, costumes, blankets and collages. One artist created a life-sized mannequin of a Mandalorian from Star Wars.
SPORTS
The Corona del Mar wrestling team routed Newport Harbor this week, retaining control of the coveted “Golden Singlet.” This is the third straight season that the trophy will go to the Sea Kings. “It definitely feels amazing to just totally outrun [the Sailors],” said team member Zion Hernandez. “Just pin after pin after pin. We put [in] so much hard work in the room, and it just shows it pays off. This year, we’ll definitely be back with CIF.”
Here’s a roundup of high school sports scores from Orange County’s coastal cities. This week, Fountain Valley high girls’ basketball claimed a win over El Toro and Newport Harbor defeated Foothill.
Stay in Touch
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