The environment has been a significant area of focus during the past few years, and it was devastating to hear that a massive oil spill took place off the coast of Huntington Beach, California. Unfortunately, there are some people who believe that some of the damage to the wildlife in the area, including the fish and bird populations, could be permanent. Now, it is time for the oil companies who are responsible for this spill to take time to be held accountable for their actions.
Recently, a federal lawsuit was filed in the Central District of California Western Division. The lawsuit claims that the companies in charge of operating the rig and associated pipeline caused direct harm to the ecosystem, wildlife, and people who live there. The lawsuit alleges that these companies should have taken more actions to prevent oil from spilling from the platform, which is located approximately 4.5 miles from shore.
The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants did not provide the public with adequate notice of the hazard and the potential impacts of the oil spill. Deceased animals have been washing up on the beach covered in oil. The shorelines of the impacted area have suffered a significant amount of environmental damage. Unfortunately, there are some experts who believe the damage to the environment could be irreversible.
The affected area of the oil spill stretches from Newport Beach to Huntington Beach. The defendants include Beta Operating Company, Amplify Energy Corporation, and numerous other Affiliates. Sadly, as many as 144,000 gallons of oil leaked into the Pacific Ocean after a pipe burst. This led to a massive oil chain standing close to six nautical miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. As numerous beaches were closed to the public, the disaster continued to get worse. Plants and animals were irreparably damaged, and countless people turned out to volunteer. It will be interesting to track a lawsuit as it goes through the legal system. Even though the oil companies should be expected to mount a vigorous defense, the impacts on the environment are not in dispute. It will take a long time to clean this mess up, and those who are responsible for the disaster should have a hand in doing so.
