Refugio Incident; Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara, CA | 2015-May-19

Initial Notification: On May 19, 2015 the NOAA was notified of a 24-inch pipeline rupture that occurred earlier today near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, CA. An estimated 500 barrels (21,000 gallons) of crude oil was released on the shoreside of Hwy 101 which then flowed into the Pacific Ocean. The source has since been secured. USCG personnel estimated the size of the sheen to be 3.5 NM along the beach and 50-100 yards into the water. Oil Spill Recovery Organizations are on-scene to conduct cleanup operations. California Department of Fish and Wildlife has ordered beach closures. The US Coast Guard has stood up Incident Management Team and is conducting overflights. NOAA has been requested to provide fate and effects of the crude oil and Resources at Risk information.