SANTA BARBARA, May 21 (Reuters) - Cleanup crews labored through a third day to scoop up patches of crude oil from a pipeline spill that closed two California state beaches and fouled offshore waters, shattering an environmental balance that U.S. Coast Guard officials said on Thursday may take months to restore. Up to 2,500 barrels (105,000 gallons) of petroleum, according to latest estimates, gushed onto San Refugio State Beach and into the Pacific about 20 miles (32 km) west of Santa Barbara on Tuesday when an underground pipeline that runs along the coastal highway inexplicably burst. As much as a fifth of the amount was believed to have reached the ocean, leaving oil slicks that stretched for more than 9 miles (15 km) along the coast. Environmental activists and local officials said it could turn out to be the largest oil spill in 46 years to hit the ecologically sensitive but energy-rich Santa Barbara shoreline, about 125 miles (200 km) northwest of Los Angeles. The spill zone lies at the edge of a national marine sanctuary and state-designated underwater preserve teeming with whales, dolphin, sea lions, some 60 species of sea birds and more than 500 species of fish.

BING NEWS:
  • Battle to Prioritize Public Health over Oil Company Profits Heats Up
    Proposed California bills would protect residents in mostly low-income communities of color by speeding cleanup of dangerous neighborhood oil wells. But industry is fighting to keep even idle wells ...
    05/2/2024 - 10:05 pm | View Link
  • Palm Beach County Lifts Swim Bans After Sewage Spill Cleanup, Some Areas Still Under Advisory
    Water activities resume in Palm Beach after a sewage spill, with health officials confirming safe water quality in most areas impacted by the spill caused by an AT&T contractor.
    04/28/2024 - 2:55 am | View Link
  • Health alert caused by sewage spill partially lifted in Lake Worth Beach area
    The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County lifted health alert that was prompted by a Lake Worth Beach area sewage spill.
    04/27/2024 - 6:04 am | View Link
  • Earth Day 2024: How a 1969 California oil spill is associated with the national day
    A 1969 oil spill off the pristine California coast sparked sorrow and anger, igniting anti-pollution activism that would forever change U.S. policy.
    04/22/2024 - 7:13 am | View Link
  • UCSB researcher among four people honored for help on massive oil spill investigation Friday
    The FBI honored a UCSB researcher and three others in an award ceremony last Friday for their help investigating a huge oil spill of up to 25,000 gallons across Southern California in 2021.
    04/22/2024 - 6:45 am | View Link
  • More

 

Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

More News