A pipeline operator has agreed to pay $50 million to thousands of Southern California fishermen, tourism companies and property owners who sued after anA proposed settlement between Amplify Energy Corp., which owns the pipeline that ruptured in October 2021 and spilled 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean, and the businesses and residents was filed Monday in federal court in Santa Ana, court documents show.
A federal judge still needs to sign off on the proposal for it to take effect. A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16. The proposal requires Amplify to install a leak detection system and provide spill training to employees, steps that the company also. It also would require Amplify to increase staffing on an offshore oil platform, court papers show.
Amplify had no comment Tuesday and referred to a statement issued when the agreement was reached in August calling it a"reasonable and fair resolution." The company said it would continue to seek damages from shipping vessels accused of dragging anchor and damaging the pipeline months before the leak.