Refugio oil spill

Problems

• The oil spill

  On May 19, crude oil began spilling from an underground pipeline located above Highway 101 in Santa Barbara, CA. The spilled oil flowed underneath the highway, through a culvert, and into ocean waters near Refugio Beach. The owner of the pipeline, Plains All American Pipeline, estimates approximately 101,000 gallons of oil was released of which an estimated 21,000 gallons made its way into the Pacific Ocean before the pipeline was shut off. The cause of the spill is still under investigation.

• Wildlife impact

  The thick crude oil damaged the coats, skin, beaks, and appendages of hundreds of animals. Workers eventually collected 202 dead birds and 99 dead mammals, including at least 46 sea lions and 12 dolphins. 
  Of the 69 animals freed after being cleaned and nursed back to health, 10 were adult Brown pelicans that were released at Goleta Beach after spending three weeks in San Pedro with a team of scientists from the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. In September 2015, SeaWorld San Diego released the last three sea lions affected by the oil spill at Border Field State Park. Scientists will monitor the movements of some sea lions and at least five pelicans with satellite transmitters.
  
  The spill cleanup occurred during the snowy plovers' nesting season, so special precautions were necessary while cleaning up tar balls. Their nests are hard to spot in the open sand, and the birds are easily deterred by human activity, leaving their eggs to fast-moving predators such as seagulls.
  
  Marine researchers note that mammals and birds get the most attention but smaller creatures at the base of the ocean food chain are also harmed by the oil. Life on the sea floor and near the shore such as mussels, barnacles, and other shellfish is unable to move out of the way. When exposed to oil, these organisms suffer 90%-plus mortality, and recovery of the population can take decades.

• Economic impact

  Plains All American Pipeline estimated that the cleanup had cost $96 million. Overall expenses related to the spill were estimated to be $257 million in an earnings report for Plains All American Pipeline issued around the same time. This included the emergency response and cleanup efforts along with the expected legal claims and potential settlements. The CEO stated in the report that all but $65 million would be covered by insurance and that the figure did not include lost revenue from the pipelines that have been shut down. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires whoever spills the oil to pay for the cleanup.
  
  The economic consequences for the county were more difficult to quantify. The financial impact on the county was estimated by the California Economic Forecast Director at $74 million. The impact on tourism was not as negative as it was predicted.
  
  In response to the spill, 138 square miles (360 km2) of fisheries were closed. The order was lifted after six weeks when the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment determined that the area's seafood was safe to eat and posed no significant health threat. Local commercial fishermen reported that it was tough to sell the fish caught outside of the closed area because of the impression that all of the region's seafood was tainted from the oil spill.

• Recreation impacts

  Although lightly populated, recreation brings outdoor enthusiasts to the Gaviota Coast. The spill affected visitors to both public and private facilities in the area. The state closed heavily used El Capitán State Beach for a month, which was finally reopened on June 26 for camping and day use. Refugio State Beach was more heavily damaged and did not reopen until July 17, 2015. After reopening, these two popular parks quickly filled up with summer crowds. Eric Hjelstrom, California State Parks sector superintendent said, “On opening day we were full. Half the people didn't know we were closed, which is a good indication of how clean the park was”.