There’s been a settlement in a civil suit by government agencies over a more-than-40,000-gallon oil spill on the South Coast. Ventura County and state agencies reached a $1.6 million dollar agreement with the pipeline’s owner and a contractor which had been working on the pipeline.
Ventura County prosecutors say the improper setup of a new valve system for the pipeline caused the June, 2016 accident in Ventura’s Hall Canyon.
Crimson Pipeline will pay $1.3 million dollars in civil penalties, reimbursement of costs in prosecution, and for damage to natural resources. The contractor, Lyon Construction, will pay $300,000. The agreement also calls for the pipeline company to improve safety efforts.
The 44,000 gallon spill in the canyon was stopped before it could flow into the ocean, but cleanup took months. Some nearby residents had to temporarily leave their homes because of fumes from the spill.
