Calif. offshore oil firms hit with nearly 400 violations
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Oil and gas companies drilling in state waters off Southern California violated regulations nearly 400 times in the past three years, according to a report being released Wednesday by an environmental group.
Records compiled by the Center for Biological Diversity showed state violations ranging from severe corrosion to failed and missing tests required to gauge the strength of wells. No civil penalties were issued for any of the violations, according to a spokesman for the state agency responsible for overseeing oil operations.
The group said the problems could pose a serious threat to the environment if aging infrastructure fails and spills oil on beaches near major cities.
“Knowing these facilities have been out there decades upon decades upon decades is a sign you’re going to see a lot of corrosion and disrepair,” said Kristen Monsell, an attorney for the center. “We need to start getting all of this dirty decaying infrastructure out of our ocean for good.”
The findings come three years after a corroded two-foot wide pipe owned by Plains All American Pipeline ruptured on land and spilled 120,000 gallons of offshore crude that flowed toward the Santa Barbara coast. More than a fifth of the oil ended up in the ocean.
The group produced its findings based on a California Public Records Act request filed with the Department of Conservation for all violations notices issued to offshore oil operations by the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources since 2015.