Santa Barbara DA's Office Investigating 'Potentially Criminal Statutes' After Oil Spill
SANTA BARBARA (CBSLA.com) — The Santa Barbara County District Attorney confirmed Wednesday her office was investigating the large oil spill along the coast of Central California.
Joyce E. Dudley said she has assigned a deputy DA and investigator who specialize in environmental law to review potentially relevant criminal and civil statutes following the rupture of a 24-inch underground pipeline.
The pipe ruptured before noon Tuesday near Refugio State Beach just northwest of Santa Barbara.
Authorities shut down the pipeline several hours after responding, although 21,000 gallons of oil spilled into ocean along a nine-mile stretch.
"The California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed fishing and shellfish harvesting in Santa Barbara County from one mile west of Refugio State Beach to one mile east of the beach at the recommendation of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard's assessment," Mark Crossland said.
Various crews were expect to clean up the oil over the next few days.
"We have a series of contractors, specialists and government agencies here managing the incident," Capt. Dennis Chastain said.
State park officials said camping will be unavailable through Memorial Day weekend.