Huntington Beach oil spill rattles tourism, wildlife; storms complicate cleanup

Locals and Chapman students speculate about the spill’s immediate impact and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future. DANIEL PEARSON, Staff Photographer.

Normally bustling with tourists, the shoreline of Huntington Beach was unusually barren Oct. 4. Caution tape and hazard signs lined the sand, warning that murky water was off-limits. Where one might typically expect the sight of surfers or sailboats, only large inflatable buoys stood on the water, accompanied by the faint smell of petroleum.

For 57-year resident Steven Buckelew, who grew up surfing at Huntington Beach, it was unusual seeing how few people were wandering the area.

“(Beach closures are) very uncommon,” Buckelew told The Panther Oct. 4 as he was wandering a short distance from the shoreline. “They barely shut (Huntington Beach) down for sharks. It’s a real shocker to all the locals. Night and day from Saturday to Sunday, it was a ghost town.”

Varying reports from officials speculate anywhere between 30,000 and 144,000 gallons of crude oil spilled Oct. 1 into the Huntington Beach waters. Off the shore, city staff reported a much more potent scent of petroleum even where oil slicks aren’t visible. 

The source of the spill: a 13-inch tear in an offshore pipeline operated by Beta Offshore, a division of Amplify Energy Corp. In an interview with CNN, Amplify Energy Corp. CEO Martyn Willsher said the pipeline is tested for structural integrity every two years, and inspectors had never seen any degradation of the pipeline.

Many questions linger about what caused the spill. One popular theory, which the Coast Guard is currently investigating, supposes that a ship’s anchor caused the pipeline to rupture. An Oct. 8 Voice of OC report confirmed that federal investigators are looking as far back as a year ago to determine the cause of the rupture, noting that anchor-related oil spills are very rare.

Areas like Laguna Beach have been completely closed to the public during cleanup, while Crystal Cove State Beach and other sites have remained open but prohibited access to the water. But as of 6 a.m. this morning, many of the city and state beaches in Huntington Beach are once again open to the public after an independently contracted water-quality testing specialist reported non-detectable findings of contaminants associated with oil in water.

While the exact cause and time frame of the spill has yet to be determined, one thing is clear: the Orange County coastline felt — and is still reeling from — the effects.

Currently employed as a security guard at Huntington Beach, Buckelew witnessed some unexpected complications from the closure. Because nearby parking lots had been closed off from the public, mobile home owners who frequently camp out next to the beach had nowhere to stay. 

“There were motorhomes lined up (at the parking lot entrance) from three in the morning, and they would (typically) come in at five,” Buckelew recalled. “People had to wake up to find out they’re not coming in. They had been (waiting) there all night, so there were a lot of people upset.”  

In contrast, Buckelew was surprised by beachgoers’ compliance to the closure rules, in contrast to recent demonstrations against COVID-19 restrictions. Apart from a handful of swimmers, most curious observers appeared to stay on the sand and away from any hazards.

“The people adhered to the law. Usually, there’s (someone) who wants to protest that,” Buckelew said. 

The impact on tourism sank in last weekend, when Huntington Beach canceled the Oct. 3 Pacific Airshow — an event focused on beach cleanup efforts that historically sees a large turnout. By Oct. 4, people like Buckelew were helping to dismantle various venue structures like stages and tents.

As someone who habitually visits the area to find recyclables, Long Beach resident Jay Cochetti noted a stark contrast between the recently vacant coastline and the fanfare from just a few days earlier.

“I thought (the airshow) ended early,” said Cochetti, who didn’t know about the oil spill until he saw it himself. “I (asked), ‘What’s going on?’ I was here (Oct. 2) and there were tons of people.” 

The spill also presents an immediate danger to coastal wildlife: The Guardian recently reported dozens of fish and birds washing ashore dead. As of Oct. 10, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network has recorded 27 birds recovered from the spill alive and 38 birds found dead.

Recent weather conditions in Orange County have raised other concerns about the spill. An Oct. 4 thunderstorm impeded cleanup efforts: both higher swells in the water and lightning strikes became a threat to crews on the coastline. Officials also worry that wind storms have the potential to drive oil closer to Orange County shores.

Despite the many obstacles, local governments and cleanup crews have made progress. An Oct. 10 report states 5,544 gallons of oil have been recovered total, and 13.6 barrels of tar balls were collected on Saturday alone. More than 1,600 people are continuing to conduct response operations, and 11,400 feet of containment boom has been deployed.

For Chapman students like Linnea O’Donnell, a senior television writing and production major, going beyond cleanup to prevent future environmental disasters is a priority. O’Donnell often visits local beaches in order to relax, but the spill has turned those visits into something more sobering.

While O’Donnell hopes to help in the cleanup, she believes individual contributions can only go so far. 

“It’s the legislature that needs to change, and the ways that we look at (our) resources,” O’Donnell told The Panther from the Newport coastline.

Sean Lindsey, another frequent beachgoer and a junior in the same major, hopes the spill reminds people of how fragile nature can be if neglected. 

“When things go wrong, it’s easy to see there’s an issue,” Lindsey said. “But, we never think we’re going to have the next Deepwater Horizon off Long Beach. We have to be more conscious of the potential for danger.”

While there is a long road ahead for the cleanup process, there are ways to help. People who wish to volunteer for or donate to cleanup efforts can visit the Southern California Spill Response page here.