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Image: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
By Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer
More information has come to light about the estimated 144,000 gallons of oil that spilled off the coast of Huntington Beach, California. Federal transportation investigators say the likely cause of the spill was a ship’s anchor, which caught and dragged an almost mile-long section of the pipe across the seafloor. Furthermore, an estimated twelve hours elapsed between the moment officials were notified of the spill and when they took action, leaving many concerned about the Coast Guard’s negligence.
Additionally, America’s pipelines are dangerously outdated. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the United States a C- on its energy infrastructure. As oil pipelines deteriorate, they become more vulnerable to breaks. Intense tropical storms can cause spills: Hurricane Ida caused 55 spills in the Gulf Coast — a new record for spills caused by a single storm, according to the New York Times.
Currently, coastal fisheries in the area are closed to commercial and recreational fishing, and Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County late on Monday.
“It’s time, once and for all, to disabuse ourselves that this has to be part of our future. This is part of our past,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said about the spill.
UNESCO has launched a new program to collect, analyze, and monitor environmental DNA (AKA eDNA) to better understand biodiversity at its marine World Heritage sites. Scientists will collect genetic material from fish cells, mucus, and waste across multiple locations along with eDNA from soil, water, and air. The two-year project will help experts assess […]
It’s about time we had a conversation about the birds and the bees…or in this case, the otters and the seagrass. A new study found that the ecological relationship between sea otters and the seagrass fields where they make their home is spurring the rapid reproduction of the plants. Otters dig up about 5% of […]
By Amy Lupica, ODP Daily Editor An abandoned oil tanker off the coast of Yemen is deteriorating rapidly, and experts say that a hull breach could have far-reaching environmental impacts and threaten millions of people’s access to food and water supplies. The FSO SAFER tanker holds 1.1 million barrels of oil — more than four […]
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