Just one day after 1.5 million people gathered on the beaches of Orange County for the annual Pacific Airshow to gaze in wonder at the majestic jet shows, a near-14 square mile slick appeared along that same coastline. 126,000 gallons of oil spilled into the ocean just three miles off the shores of Newport Beach. Fourteen boats and 5360 feet of boom, a device used to contain the oil, were deployed in the clean-up effort. By Sunday, the next day, 3150 gallons of the 126,000 gallons had been “recovered.” Since the beginning of the clean-up process, numerous reports of marine life washing ashore have emerged indicating the enormity of the ongoing pipeline failure.
The toxicity of beaches forced local officials to close the Huntington Beaches and cancel the third day of the annual Pacific Airshow that had expected upwards of 1.5 million onlookers excited to watch the performance of the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. (The beaches reopened on Oct. 11, ten days after the initial spill). Beyond recreational implications and the immediate impact on the marine life residing, the spillage extended to the Talbert Marsh ecological reserve, where dozens of species of birds inhabit.
On Oct. 2, Republican Representative Michelle Steel of Orange county wrote a letter asking President Biden to “issue a major disaster declaration in response to the spill.” In her letter, Steel emphasized the exigency of the situation by indicating how “Constituents who live along the shoreline are already reporting oil on the beach and strong odors. Dead fish and birds are already being reported on beaches and shorelines.” The Coast Guard and other related public agencies have advised against volunteer cleanup efforts as it may “hinder response efforts.”
This recent spillage serves as another indication of the ongoing need for the transition away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy sources. Like Santa Barbara’s three-million-gallon spill in 1969 that spurred engagement for the environment, this recent accident can serve as another reminder of the perils that follow the black waters.