The California oil pipeline spill could endanger sea life for years, experts say

Emergency officials are still trying to contain a major oil spill off the coast of Southern California that dumped more than 120,000 gallons of crude oil from an offshore pipeline into the Pacific Ocean, some of which has washed ashore.

"Diver reports and [video] footage show that a 4,000-foot section of the 17.7 mile-long pipeline was displaced with a maximum lateral movement of approximately 105 feet and had a 13-inch split, running parallel to the pipe," according to a statement from officials.

Officials investigating the spill didn't suggest what caused the damage in their Tuesday news briefing.

So far, 4,788 gallons of crude oil have been recovered and an estimated 15.67 miles of light oiling was reported along shorelines, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

But even as the response effort continues, experts say the long-term impacts to the environment — particularly on birds and marine life — could be significant even if they didn't get saturated by the weekend oil slick.

"They might not look visibly oiled, but the exposure that they get subtly through their diet or because of physical contact later on might affect their physiology, their health and translate into a lower reproductive success and therefore lower chances of the population to persist," Andrea Bonisoli Alquati, a professor of biological sciences at Cal Poly Pomona, told NPR.

Bonisoli Alquati studied the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill on marine and terrestrial wildlife along the Gulf Coast and found that the repercussions are still present today.

"Some populations might recover fast. Some other populations take years and years," he said. "Sometimes the focus, of course, of the press and the public has already shifted away, but the consequences are still happening."

Officials say they're already finding dead fish and wildlife

The ecological effects are already being felt in Southern California.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley tweeted on Sunday that officials were starting to find dead birds and fish washing up on the shore. The director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed fisheries in coastal areas affected by the spill.

As of Tuesday, the Oiled Wildlife Care Network reported that it had recovered eight living birds impacted by the oil spill — a brown pelican, a ruddy duck, an eared grebe, a sanderling, three western grebes and an American coot.

But many more could be at risk. The Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy says Talbert Marsh, which is in the zone of the oil spill, is home to about 90 different bird species.

"A spill of this magnitude is a disaster whenever it occurs, but this one occurred in an especially sensitive area at critical time, as many bird species head south for the winter," Sarah Rose, executive director of Audubon California, said in a statement.

"This spill — in virtually the same spot as a devastating 1990 spill — is a reminder that petroleum and water are a dangerous mix along California's precious coast and that continued reliance on oil kills birds and other wildlife, threatens our public health, and harms local economies and recreational opportunities," she added.

The spill is adding to calls for a shift away from fossil fuels

The oil spill has renewed calls among environmental advocates and others for the United States to stop using fossil fuels and instead switch to renewable energy sources that are safer.

"Even after fines and criminal charges, the oil industry is still spilling and leaking into California's coastal waters," Miyoko Sakashita with the Center for Biological Diversity said in a tweet. "The only solution is to shut this dirty business down."

Martyn Willsher, president and CEO of Amplify Energy, said the oil rig operated by his company that spilled crude oil over the weekend was constructed in the 1970s and '80s and is inspected regularly. He added that the company intends to take part in the recovery effort until it's completed.

The official cause is still under investigation

According to officials, the oil spill was caused by damage to a pipeline from a facility offshore — but officials say what caused the breach has not yet been determined.

The Coast Guard says the leak is believed to be about four miles offshore of Huntington Beach along a 17.5-mile pipeline. The pipeline, according to officials, is 80 to 100 feet below the surface.

Observing the spill from both sea and air, a Coast Guard official says the spill is constantly changing and can be described as "ribbons of oil" and not "one large blot."

"I would characterize it as isolated ribbons of oil, or patches of oil,'' said Coast Guard Capt. Rebecca Ore during a Tuesday news conference.

Overflights and shore-based responders are continuing to monitor the ocean and shore for oil impact, officials said.

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