A busted pipeline off the California coast spilled approximately 21,000 gallons of oil into the ocean and onto beaches Tuesday as officials scrambled to secure the area, Reuters reported.
The spill occurred
Tuesday afternoon at a site off the Santa Barbara County coast.
The pipeline is operated by Plains All American Pipeline, the US
Coast Guard in Los Angeles stated. While it’s unclear exactly
what type of oil seeped out of the pipeline, officials from
multiple government agencies, including local, federal and
wildlife, responded to the scene.
The spill extended about four miles along Refugio Beach, the
Coast Guard said. An official added that it had traveled about 50
yards (46 meters) into the ocean, according to Reuters.
UPDATE: Officials estimate 21,000 gallons of oil leaked into
waters off Santa Barbara County http://t.co/fhUXYkTXmK pic.twitter.com/pSayb8elsl
— Matt Hamilton (@MattHjourno) May
20, 2015
The site has been secured by authorities, the Coast Guard stated.
There is no word yet on the cause of the leak. CNN reported that
the pipeline had been shut off.
While Coast Guard officials told the Los Angeles Times that about
21,000 gallons may have been leaked, California state officials
declined to comment until they can calculate the exact amount.
Oil spills off California coast after pipeline ruptures in
Santa Barbara. pic.twitter.com/7VavnG0jF1
— Lorena de la Cuesta (@LorenadlaCuesta)
May 20, 2015
Meanwhile, Refugio Beach has been closed in response to the
spill. A warning was also issued for the neighboring El Capitan
State Beach.
One photograph posted by the Coast Guard on Twitter showed black
oil collecting on the coast.
#Update CG
overflight photo from Refugio State Beach oil spill pic.twitter.com/MCxtce8xvN
— USCGLosAngeles (@USCGLosAngeles) May
20, 2015
As of now, it’s unclear if any wildlife has been affected as a
result of the spill.
“We haven’t seen any reports of impacts on wildlife but it is
in the water so it is impacting the environment,” Richard
Abrams, the emergency manager for Santa Barbara County, told
Reuters.
Oil spill along Refugio State Beach after pipeline breaks
#California
pic.twitter.com/OEa5wGVBwc
— Andrés Benedicto (@_abenedicto) May
20, 2015