Company responsible for O.C. oil spill gets permission to repair pipeline
The former owner of a pipeline that spilled oil in Southern California has obtained federal permission to repair his property.
On Friday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials granted Permethan, Oregon-based Caithness Infrastructure permission to dredge and pump water out of a portion of a pipeline that runs under Interstate 5 in the Los Alamitos region.
The department granted permission for the company to maintain and repair its damaged pipeline in order to clear the spill, which has been there for three months.
In order to maintain and repair the spill, the company must obtain a change-order from the city of Los Alamitos, according to the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
The city also has to provide the company with an easement to pump out the oil. In order to do so, the company is required to demonstrate to officials that it has the financial resources and resources necessary to properly dredge the pipeline.
The company is required to file an application for the change-order within 30 days, according to the city.
A city spokeswoman said that a public hearing on the change-order is set for Monday, Jan. 17 at City Hall.
After the hearing, it will go to the City Council for approval. The council has 30 days to approve the change-order. If it decides to deny the application, the city will not allow the company to continue the work. The city plans to notify the company in writing if the city will not grant the change-order.
“We feel that it’s important that our public have a chance to weigh in on the matter,” said City Administrator Larry Kincaid. “If they feel the change-order should be denied, then the city believes that they have been fully heard and can make an informed decision on the matter.”
The company said it has a plan in case of a spill. It believes that after the pipeline was plugged, it has enough water and the pipeline isn’t damaged that it needs to be plugged.
But the city said any change-order should ensure that the pipeline is not damaged. Moreover, the city said it can’t allow the pipeline to be damaged either, which could cause dangerous oil to enter the water, creating an oil spill.
The city could not explain how the pipelines would have been damaged if the
