D.A. Hires Attorney to Investigate Oil Spill

A private-practice attorney who specializes in environmental law has been hired by the Ventura County district attorney’s office to investigate a spill of 84,000 gallons of heavy crude oil last year into McGrath Lake just north of Oxnard.

Oxnard attorney Glen M. Reiser said he was awaiting a final report on the spill from the California Department of Fish and Game before recommending whether criminal charges should be filed against Bush Oil Co. officials.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregory W. Brose said the county retained Reiser because of his expertise in the field.

Reiser also worked on the recent Oxnard Shores case, in which residents claimed oil contamination beneath their homes.

The Bush report, prepared after months of investigation by Fish and Game Lt. Mark Caywood, is completed and awaiting approval from Fish and Game officials in Sacramento, Reiser said.

But because there are at least four state agencies involved in the case--the State Lands Commission, Fish and Game, the California Department of Parks and Recreation and the Regional Water Quality Control Board--Reiser estimated it would be at least next month before he is prepared to make a recommendation.

More than 200 birds and other animals were killed in the spill, which dribbled at least 2,000 barrels of heavy crude oil from a leaking Bush Oil pipeline before it was discovered by federal officials Christmas morning.