HB plant suspected in oil spill

A Huntington Beach petroleum plant may be responsible for an oil spill late last month, the California Department of Fish and Game announced today.

According to Carol Singleton, a spokeswoman for the department, officials were nearly certain the oil came from the Angus Petroleum Corporation at 1901 California St., but were running tests before taking any action.

“We’re very sure,” she said. “But we have to be really thorough, so we’ve taken oil samples and we’re getting them processed through our petroleum chemistry lab. All indication is that it’s the Angus plant.”

If Angus is determined responsible for the spill, it may be charged with illegally discharging harmful materials into state water or failing to report the spill to authorities, Singleton said. She noted that Angus had not caused any problems in the years she had worked for the department and that its staff was cooperating with the investigation.

Crews from the city, state and others assembled Jan. 22 to clean the spill in a flood-control channel east of Beach Boulevard. The crews set booms in the water to keep the oil from draining into the Talbert Marsh. Singleton said wildlife crews had collected 30 dead birds and one raccoon since the spill, although it was unclear if the oil had caused their deaths.

Angus officials declined comment.

— Michael Miller