Up to 105,000 Gallons of Oil Spilled on California Coast; Gov. Jerry Brown Declares Emergency

“We will do everything necessary to protect California’s coastline,” said Gov. Jerry Brown in a statement Wednesday, after news broke that the oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara that began on Tuesday may be far greater in magnitude than originally expected.

From RT News:

“This emergency proclamation cuts red tape and helps the state quickly mobilize all available resources,” said Governor Brown in a statement…Brown’s office added that six boom boats, three 65-foot collection vessels and hand crews [were] coordinating with the state as clean-up efforts continue. California state oil spill, wildlife and emergency officials are also working to alleviate the situation.

Originally, US Coast Guard officials estimated that the approximately 21,000 gallons of oil had spilled out of a pipeline operated by Plains All American Pipeline, though this calculation is being investigated. The type of oil was later identified as crude, and officials said the spill had stretched out to approximately nine miles across Santa Barbara County’s Refugio Beach.

The company stated to AP that the 105,000 gallon estimate was a “worst-case scenario” and that it does not know exactly how much oil actually seeped into the ocean. The pipeline itself is onshore, but oil traveled down a storm drain before hitting the Pacific Ocean.