The announcement was the most delinquent legal action to have the Texas-based oil company accountable for a subsea pipeline leak that discharged some 558 barrels (25,000 gallons) of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean off Huntington Beach coast in southern California in October of last year.
At a news conference live online, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed that the company had continually turned off and on the 17-mile-long pipeline when it was warned of the leak.
Months before the fall, the state declared that high winds forced two ships to drag their anchors across the sea floor to turn and move the pipeline, ultimately causing its cement container to crack.
As part of the deal, Amplify will not examine the charges of failing to register an oil spill into state waters, polluting water, and destroying protected wildlife.
Training The Workers
It will disburse $3.45M to the state and $1.45M to Orange County.
Amplify Chief Executive Martyn Willsher expressed that the company was dedicated to operating safely.
The plea agreement also directs the company to instruct employees on oil spill notification, establish an improved leak detection system and execute biannual visual inspections of its pipeline.
Last month, Amplify arranged to plead guilty to federal criminal negligence charges and pay almost $13M for the spill.
