TORCH OPERATING COMPANY AND RELATED DEFENDANTS VIOLATED CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 311 BY SPILLING AT LEAST 1,108 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL AND PRODUCED WATER INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE SPILL OCCURRED FROM A RUPTURED OIL PLATFORM TO AN ON-SHORE PROCESSING FACILITY. THE SPILL CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL NATURAL RESOURCE DAMANGES INCLUDING HARM TO ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES.
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A Complaint was filed on May 29, 2002. The Complaint named three parties: Torch Energy Services, Inc., Nuevo Energy Company, and Black Hawk Oil & Gas Company. The Complaint alleged several violations, including a discharge of petroleum into the Pacific Ocean that harmed wildlife and habitat along the Santa Barbara coast. The Complaint seeks penalties and natural resource damages.