HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — The company whose pipeline is suspected in one of the largest oil spills in recent California history has been cited 72 times for safety and environmental violations that were severe enough that drilling had to be curtailed or cut off to fix the problem.
That's according to regulatory records. In all, Beta Operating Co. has been cited 125 times since 1980. The company was also fined a total of $85,000 for three incidents.
The company is under scrutiny after a suspected leak in an underwater pipeline fouled the sands of famed Huntington Beach and other coastal communities. The spill could keep beaches closed for weeks or months.
