Cleanup crews stepped up efforts Thursday to remove oil-fouled
water from the ocean—and contaminated earth and sand from
the shore—after a ruptured pipeline spewed up to an
estimated 2,500 barrels, or 105,000 gallons, of crude oil in Santa
Barbara County, Calif.
Officials said at a news conference Thursday morning that they
had made the cleanup response a 24- hour-a -day operation and so
far had removed more than 7,700 gallons of oily water mixture from
the ocean and 400 yards of saturated soil from the site of
Tuesday's spill, which came from a pipeline operated by Plains All
American Pipeline LP.
Workers for Plains All American Pipeline have been digging up
soil contaminated by the spill along the ruptured pipeline, and
planned to continue through Thursday, said a Plains spokeswoman at
the joint command center established by federal and state agencies
at the spill site. It was unclear when crews might begin digging up
the section of pipe that leaked the oil, she said.
State wildlife officials said they have rescued five brown
pelicans that had been coated with oil. They are being kept at a
local wildlife care facility, the officials said, where the birds
are gaining strength before being moved and cleaned at another
Southern California facility.
Officials said Wednesday the oil that had reached the water,
estimated at 21,000 gallons, had spread into two large patches in
the Pacific Ocean, covering an area about 9 miles long. Democratic
Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the county
Wednesday evening, freeing up emergency state funding and resources
to help in the cleanup.
Cleanup crews from state and federal agencies were on hand at
Refugio State Beach, the site of the spill 140 miles north of Los
Angeles. The area is a protected cove prized by surfers, kayakers,
campers and fishing enthusiasts and home to seals, sea lions and
birds.
The spill is being investigated by the Environmental Protection
Agency and the federal Transportation Department. Santa Barbara
County District Attorney Joyce Dudley and state Attorney General
Kamala Harris said they are looking into the spill for possible
criminal prosecution or civil liability.
Cassandra Sweet contributed to this article.
Write to Alejandro Lazo at alejandro.lazo@wsj.com
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