The U.S. Coast Guard is currently conducting an investigation into an oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach in Orange County, California. County Supervisor Don Wagner's office has confirmed that the oil sheen visible on the water surface spans approximately two miles wide. The spill, which was deemed to be non-natural in origin, was first reported on Friday.

Supervisor Katrina Foley took to social media to provide updates on the incident to her constituents. Based on initial thoughts, Foley speculated that the spill may have originated from a platform. Wagner, on the other hand, stated that emergency personnel are on the scene, working diligently to identify the source of the spill.

According to Foley, officials were alerted to a potential leak near an offshore oil rig on Thursday night, but the spill was not confirmed until early Friday. As of now, the city of Huntington Beach has not issued any beach closures, but mariners have received safety alerts advising them to stay out of the affected area.

A county emergency response team, under the supervision of Foley's office, is currently assessing the situation on the water. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is also involved in determining whether this is an active spill, as stated by State Senator Dave Min. Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed that state officials are actively monitoring the situation and collaborating with local, state, and federal partners.

Images and videos taken by a KTLA-TV News helicopter showed a dark, reflective substance floating across the waters. Foley confirmed that tarballs have been observed washing up on the Huntington Dog Beach, raising concerns among residents and visitors.

This is not the first time Huntington Beach has dealt with an oil spill. In 2021, a ruptured underwater oil pipeline in San Pedro Bay caused a spill of approximately 25,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean and along the coast. The incident was linked to an oil processing platform called Elly, located nine miles offshore in federal waters. Amplify Energy Corp., the operator of Elly, faced criticism for a significant delay in notifying federal regulators about the spill. Amplify Energy and two subsidiaries were later indicted on criminal charges related to the spill.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation in 2023 and concluded that the pipeline was struck by two cargo ship anchors, with the pipeline company failing to follow safety protocols. Last April, a settlement of $50 million was awarded to affected individuals and businesses, while the City of Huntington Beach received $1 million to cover costs associated with the three-month-long cleanup effort.

In light of the previous spills, the NTSB has called for shipping containers to anchor further away from offshore pipelines to prevent such accidents in the future. Huntington Beach also faced a smaller spill last August, when a vessel sank off the coast, spilling approximately 300 gallons of diesel.

The Coast Guard's investigation into the recent oil spill off Huntington Beach is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as information becomes available.