Possible lawsuit against US government for California oil spill

The Center for Biodiversity (CBD) has announced its intent to sue the US government for being the cause of a California oil spill in October. a notice to U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) informing both bodies of the group's intent to sue, with 60 day notice as per citizen suit provisions.

In October, Houston-based Amplify Energy pipeline leaked at least 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean off the coast of southern California. Miles of beaches and fisheries had to be shut down and the oil spill killed and injured birds and other wildlife.

"The oil industry is drilling and spilling off California's coast under plans written when Carter and Reagan were in the White House and floppy disks were high tech," said Kristen Monsell, Legal Director of the center's oceans program. "These incredibly outdated documents highlight the federal government's reckless, contemptible refusal to protect our beaches, wildlife and communities from offshore drilling pollution. Retro is not a good look for those ominous oil platforms, which should be shut down entirely," she added in a statement.

The group highlights Platform 'Elly' and other offshore oil production centers in what is termed as the 'Beta oilfield' as ticking time bombs which are operating under regulations written decades ago. A complete overhaul of regulations and infrastructure is required, they said.