Amplify Energy Co., a Houston-based oil company operating off the coast of Southern California, must be held responsible for last week's catastrophic oil spill in Huntington Beach. 

On October 2nd, 2021, an underwater pipeline leak was reported to be the cause of a massive oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach in Southern California. The pipeline, owned by Amplify Energy Co., flooded both Huntington Beach and its neighboring coastal cities' waters with over five miles of crude oil. The spill has devastated local beaches, businesses, wildlife and communities as officials now rush to fix the pipeline and clean up the spill. In total, it has been reported that over 126,000 gallons of oil have been leaked into Huntington Beach's waters.

While city and state beaches in Huntington Beach are set to reopen on October 11th, this oil spill remains a major issue that should not have occurred. Because of the spill, the health of Orange County's environment is in jeopardy. I am thus calling on city, county and state officials to hold Amplify Energy Co. financially responsible for their failure to adequately operate and maintain their oil rigs. In addition, I am calling on officials to hold the company to stricter regulations, such that Amplify Energy Co. be required to increase safety procedures and responses for their pipelines going forward. By failing to uphold these procedures and/or active monitoring of their pipelines, the company should be prevented from operating further in Southern California's coast. 

The state of Orange County's coastal environment and community are essential to California's overall health and prosperity. They must be protected from future disasters at all cost.