Environmental group in LA sues federal government over pipeline spill
LOS ANGELES (CNS) An environmental group sued the federal government Wednesday in Los Angeles, alleging in federal court that officials are failing to protect endangered whales, sea turtles and other species from continued oil and gas drilling off California's coast.
The lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity comes after an undersea pipeline connected to drilling platforms off Orange County ruptured in early October, spewing tens of thousands of gallons of oil into the ocean. The spill fouled sensitive beaches and wetlands, forced fishery closures and harmed or killed dozens of fish, birds and marine mammals, according to the suit.
"Endangered whales and other marine life have faced oil spill after oil spill off California's coast, and the federal government has failed to protect them," said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the center.
"These imperiled animals shouldn't have to suffer and die because the oil industry is fouling our ocean waters. A robust, science-based analysis would show that drilling off California is just too risky to wildlife and our climate and should be phased out quickly," she continued.
Read more: https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/environment/2022/01/26/environmental-group-in-la-sues-federal-government-over-pipeline-spill