Santa Barbara

Locals trying to clean their beach…

May 22, 2015

So little national coverage on this oil spillage in Santa Barbara – – I saw pictures on MSNBC last night showing local folks out there in their flip-flops and shorts…no toxic protection gear…with their garden shovels and buckets…trying to clean up the mess and save their beach. And there is definitely wildlife impact. From the report I watched, the recovery efforts from the company have been very slow. And that Company, Plains All American, has had numerous violations over the years…they won’t answer to it. It’s surprising how little national coverage this oil spill has received. http://ktla.com/…/company-responsible-for-santa-barbara-cou…

LA TIMES:

The operator of an underground pipeline that ruptured and released up to 105,000 gallons of crude oil in Santa Barbara County — and tens of thousands of gallons into the ocean — said Wednesday that the spill happened after a series of mechanical problems caused the line to be shut down.

The problems began about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at two pump stations that move oil through the 11-mile pipeline along the Gaviota Coast, Rick McMichael, director of pipeline operations for Plains All American Pipeline, said at a news conference.

The company said its estimate of 105,000 gallons spilled west of Santa Barbara is a worst-case scenario that was based on the line’s elevation and flow rate — which averages about 50,400 gallons an hour.

Investigators won’t find a cause for the rupture until they excavate the 24-inch wide line, which was installed in 1987, according to a joint statement from government and company officials.