Oil company accused of negligence this week for failing to properly respond to October oil spill off the Southern California coast set to begin permanent repair work, documents reviewed by NBCNews show, but critics say approval of the work appears rushed.
Environmental groups question the emergency process being used to initiate repair measures, which one critic says shields the pipeline company from the scrutiny of regulatory review.
As early as Friday morning, divers will descend about 160 feet below the surface to begin placing what documents describe as a “steel patch” over a cracked area of pipe that was temporarily repaired in the wake of the Oct. 1 spill. The listed contact person for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, a federal regulatory agency that oversees offshore oil work, was out of the office during that time according to an automatic reply when contacted by NBC News.
Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director and senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the repair plan should have gone through a permitting process that allowed for more agency and public oversight.“This looks like an instance where the Army Corps is essentially thinking of itself as customer service to the oil company to get the pipeline and platform going again, rather than providing the strict oversight to protect against water pollution,” Sakashita said.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas pipeline company charged in California oil spill | AP NewsLOS ANGELES (AP) — A Houston-based oil company and two subsidiaries were indicted Wednesday for a crude spill that fouled Southern California waters and beaches in October, an event federal prosecutors say was caused by a series of negligent acts that led to an hours-long leak despite alarms that should have alerted workers to a pipeline rupture.
Read more »
Kim Kardashian Just Filed Docs Detailing Exactly Why She Doesn’t Want to Get Back With KanyeKim Kardashian files documents requesting to be legally single and says no counseling or reconciliation will repair marriage to Kanye West.
Read more »
Kim Kardashian Just Filed Docs Detailing Exactly Why She Doesn’t Want to Get Back With KanyeKim Kardashian files documents requesting to be legally single and says no counseling or reconciliation will repair marriage to Kanye West.
Read more »
The Repair Shop's Suzie Fletcher reveals how the show 'healed' herThe Repair Shop presenter recently opened up about how joining the BBC show helped her adjust to life in the UK after moving from the US...
Read more »
US requires higher safety standards for more pipelinesA new federal regulation requires higher safety standards for pipelines carrying oil and other hazardous liquids through sensitive areas.
Read more »
Goldman says oil could hit $100, demand might hit 'new record high' in the next two yearsGoldman Sachs predicts a new high in oil demand for next year and in 2023, according to its head of energy research on Friday.
Read more »