Santa Barbara County, US, has approved a $254,000 ($220,000) environmental review contract to support the decommissioning of Freeport-McMoRan’s Point Arguello oil and gas facilities, which ceased operating after the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill and pipeline shutdown.
The onshore Gaviota Facility and pipelines, extending three miles offshore, will be removed. MRS Environmental will prepare an environmental impact report, with Freeport-McMoRan covering all costs.
Three companies were affected by the spill-related shutdown in 2015: Freeport-McMoRan decommissioned its local assets; in 2017, Venoco declared bankruptcy and the state is currently decommissioning its facilities; and ExxonMobil transferred its facilities to Sable Offshore.
