Ring Bender Client Orange County to Receive $1.25 Million Settlement from Chevron for Talbert Channel Oil Contamination

On October 6, 2022, a contractor working for Orange County’s Department of Public Works ruptured an abandoned pipeline in the course of enhancing the flood control capacity of the Talbert Channel in Huntington Beach. Although pipeline owner Chevron had not used the pipeline in decades, and although the pipeline itself was capped, the pipeline still contained oil and other pollutants. The oil and pollutants then migrated into the channel upon rupture.

Ring Bender was retained by Orange County to recover reimbursement for expenses incurred in containing and remediating the pollutants.  On November 7, 2023, a settlement was announced pursuant to which Chevron agreed to pay Orange County $1.25 million for such costs.

We are proud to have obtained this settlement on behalf of Orange County. As a law firm focusing in part on waterway and other environmental clean-up and related cost recovery actions, our firm brings considerable experience to clients in need of representation for these and other environmental matters.