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Levine (Marvin) 1969 Oil Spill Papers
AR.2023.005
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Gledhill Library
Title: Levine (Marvin) 1969 Oil Spill Papers
Creator:
Levine, Marvin, 1930-2013
Identifier/Call Number: AR.2023.005
Physical Description:
.4 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1969-1989
Abstract: The Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers are a selection of materials covering the 5-year aftermath of the 1969 Santa Barbara
Channel oil spill from the point of view of the Santa Barbara County government as it worked to hold Union Oil Company responsibile
for clean-up of an environmental catasophe.
Language of Material:
English
.
The Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers cover the 5-year period from the 1969 Santa Barbara Channel oil spill to 1974 when
a settlement was reached between Santa Barbara County and Union Oil. The collection contains correspondence, court documents,
congressional testimony, press releases, technical data, and news clips related to County Counsel Marvin Levine's involvement
in successfully holding Union Oil responsible for clean-up of the disaster.
Marvin Levine (1930-2013) served as Chief Deputy County Counsel for Santa Barbara County, California. He represented the County
in the lawsuit against Union Oil Company following the environmental disaster of the Santa Barbara Channel Oil Blowout of
1969.
Marvin "Marv" Levine was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School, Long Island
University and Brooklyn Law School. Law school was interrupted by military service during the Korean Conflict. He served in
the Army as a paratrooper in the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Throughout
his life, he was proud of having been an Airborne trooper and had many jumps to his credit.
Following his admission to the bar, he had a small practice in Manhattan, New York City, New York. In 1968, Levine was hired
as Deputy County Counsel by Santa Barbara County, California. Throughout his career, he was Chief Deputy County Counsel, Assistant
County Counsel and Acting County Counsel before his retirement in 1990.
One of Levine's proudest career achievements was representing Santa Barbara County in the lawsuit against Union Oil Company,
et. al. following the catastrophic Santa Barbara Channel Oil Blowout of 1969. The lawsuit achieved a substantial settlement
for Santa Barbara County and, as a side effect, encouraged the environmental movement.
Besides being an attorney, Marv pursued his passion for drawing and painting. He was also a music lover and collector and
restorer of string instruments. For many years he played recorder music in a quartet of other accomplished musicians in Santa
Barbara.
The Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers are arranged in two (2) series:
1) County Counsel documents, 1969-1979
2) News stories, 1969-1989
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gifted by Margaret E. Levine in May 2023.
Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers Donor Inventory
https://bit.ly/Levine_1969_Papers
Collection processed by Chris S. Ervin CA in May 2023
[Identification of item], Marvin Levine 1969 Oil Spill Papers, AR-2023-005, Gledhill Library, Santa Barbara Historical Museum,
Santa Barbara, California.
Collection is open for research.
Property rights reside with the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact
the Head Archivist of the Gledhill Library.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Oil spills -- California -- Santa Barbara Channel
Oil spills -- Cleanup
Oil spills -- Law and legislation
Environmental disasters -- Law and legislation
Santa Barbara County (Calif.)
Union Oil Company of California