The company that just spilled thousands of gallons of crude near the California coast in Ventura has a decade-long history of oil spills in the state, according to information uncovered by the Center for Biological Diversity. The area of Ventura, California where the oil spill occurred is a beachside community that is less than 97 km (60 miles) northwest of Los Angeles.
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The Ventura County Fire Department initially estimated the size of the leak at about 5,000 barrels, but in a message on Twitter it later revised the figure down to 700 barrels.
Crimson Pipeline said the remotely monitored line was emptied on Wednesday to replace valves.
Refresh this developing story for updates.
“This company has a disturbing history of risky oil spills, yet federal pipeline regulators seem to have done nearly nothing to protect our state”, said Kristen Monsell, a Center attorney.
Many questions remain about the cause of the spill and what can be done in the future to prevent it. The oil moved down a ravine but didn’t reach a local beach.
“We started getting this horrendous smell and I knew right away what it was”.
Crimson has said most of the previous spills were caused by third parties.
The Crimson representative says the company’s estimate is at most 600 barrels, which translates to 25,200 gallons.
Doug Allen, a state supervising pipeline safety engineer said “It seems like they stopped it”.
Gilliard said the federal agency was sending personnel to assist on scene but the investigation would be led by California officials.
The spill, which began about a mile inland from San Buenaventura State Beach Thursday, had been headed toward the San Jon Road, which would have redirected it onto the 101 Freeway and ultimately on to the Pacific Ocean.
“We train so that when there is a problem or issue we’re ready to respond”, he said.
A Plains All American pipeline rupture in Santa Barbara County previous year spilled more than 120,000 gallons of oil onto the California coast, killing hundreds of birds and marine animals.
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