Here's a reminder that we don't have to burn fossil fuels in order to destroy the planet with them. A pipeline failure off the coast of Southern California that started Saturday has by now poured at least 126,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean. The spill has caused an environmental disaster across the coast, creating a city-sized slick that has spread across the water, made its way to beaches, and will almost certainly cause irreparable harm to a delicate ecosystem.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the massive spill has been traced to a broken pipeline connected to an offshore oil platform located in federal waters off the coast of Orange County. The pipeline belongs to Amplify Energy, a Texas-based oil company that has a spotty track record for complying with safety rules and regulations. The leak was stopped by Sunday afternoon, but not before it created a 13-square-mile layer of oil floating on top of the water, which is still present despite the efforts of cleanup crews.
