Huntington Oil Spill Specimen Jars
The FBI’s Los Angeles Division transferred several items from the investigation of the Huntington Beach oil spill. These samples contain marine life samples—barnacles—from the damaged pipeline preserved in ethyl alcohol.
On October 3, 2021, a thick black sheen of oil reached the shores of Huntington Beach, California. It spanned nearly six nautical miles and reached as far south as San Diego. Over three days, 25,000 gallons of oil leaked from a pipeline eight miles offshore.
Members of the FBI Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team reviewed initial U.S. Coast Guard underwater footage of the damaged pipe. They realized that animal life, specifically tube worms and barnacles living on damaged parts, might indicate how long the damaged pipe had been exposed to the water after its concrete protection had broken.
The FBI’s Los Angeles Division helped collect several items from the investigation of the Huntington Beach oil spill, including these glass jars—samples #4 and #105. The jars contain barnacles, preserved in ethyl alcohol, that were collected from the damaged pipeline.
By comparing the age of animals on the damaged areas to those on the undamaged areas, and consulting scientific literature, a scientist concluded that the pipeline break had happened at least eight months earlier.
Amplify Energy Corporation was charged with negligent discharge of oil, and further investigations showed that Amplify did not take appropriate action when initial signs of the spill were first observed. As a result of the investigation, Amplify and the vessels were charged a total of $210 million in civil and criminal penalties. Amplify was charged $12 million in criminal fees and an additional $5.9 million in clean-up costs. Amplify and the vessels also agreed to pay $95 million to the victims at Huntington Beach affected by the spill.
