News

Excerpted from the Voice of OC

By Brandon Pho

Monday kicked off a series of public autopsies by state lawmakers into the communication delays and regulatory gaps which allowed an offshore oil spill to smear tar across Orange County’s iconic coastline last month. 

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The state oil spill committee has multiple aims, namely to identify where improvements can be made in disaster response protocols and offshore pipeline regulation. 

But lawmakers have also signaled the committee will explore phasing out offshore oil platforms. 

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Alicia Robinson

While it’s still unclear whether all laws and regulations were followed in the pipeline breach that leaked about 25,000 gallons of oil onto Orange County’s beaches last month, state officials say there’s plenty of room to tighten up existing rules to better prevent and detect future spills.

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Alicia Robinson

State legislators holding a special committee hearing in Costa Mesa on Monday, Nov. 15, hope it will point them toward any changes to laws and procedures that could help prevent future oil spills and improve the response to those that do happen.

Excerpted from the Associated Press

By Amy Taxin and Brian Melley

The Coast Guard received multiple reports of a possible fuel spill off the Southern California coast earlier than previously disclosed and asked local authorities to investigate about 15 hours before its own personnel confirmed a large oil slick, which came from a leaking undersea pipeline, records show.

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Susan Christian Goulding

Still reeling from the oil spill that fouled local waters and coated wildlife, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach city councils each passed resolutions Tuesday, Oct. 19, calling for limits on off-shore drilling.

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Whalen said he hopes the new city resolutions will inspire more communities to take a formal stand and spur legislative changes on the state and federal level.

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Cottie Petrie-Norris, Luz Rivas and Tasha Boerner-Horvath

Southern California’s pristine coastline has once again found itself a victim of the oil and gas industry. Over 25,000 gallons of oil have leaked from a burst pipeline in the coastal waters off Huntington Beach, marking yet another oil spill off our iconic shores.

Excerpted from the Daily Pilot

By Andrew Turner

Orange County beaches have reopened, but local officials and environmentalists are endeavoring to make sure the recent oil spill and its impacts are not soon forgotten.

A crowd of hundreds showed up to support speakers at a news conference calling for an end to offshore oil drilling on Monday at Main Beach Park in Laguna Beach.

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Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) has repeatedly said the oil spill was the community’s worst fears come to life.

Excerpted from the Orange County Register

By Joan Cain, Alicia Robinson, Teri Sforza

California’s fleet of offshore oil and gas rigs, and the miles of pipelines that connect those rigs to on-shore refining operations, feature some of the most advanced technology the industry has to offer.

Excerpted from Los Angeles Times

By George Skelton

This was a gun control bill that made so much sense that the National Rifle Assn. didn’t even oppose it. Neither did any gun lobby. No legislator — not even a Republican — voted against it.

The measure adds so-called ghost guns to the weapons that can be seized by police from someone who’s “red-flagged” by a judge. In many cases, this is a gunowner under a restraining order because of domestic violence. Or maybe he’s threatening people and talking about wanting to kill.

Excerpted from Orange County Register

By Laylan Connelly

Watch your step if you’re headed to the beach to beat the heat or catch some waves with the swell that’s hitting the coast this week.

Oil cleanup crews were out at local beaches on Tuesday to scoop up tar balls that washed on shore following the whipping winds and big waves that struck the region Monday night into Tuesday afternoon. Oil was spotted along south Orange County beaches as the slick from the recent spill near Huntington Beach continues to move offshore toward San Diego.

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