Oil-covered pelicans, fish floating onto sandy beaches, and rescue crews working tirelessly to save marine life engulfed by black tar; long-time residents of Santa Barbara's coastal towns have seen it all before.
Over 200,000 gallons of crude oil bubbled onto California shorelines in January 1969 in what became known as the nation's worst offshore oil disaster. Seals and dolphins couldn't breathe because of clogged blowholes. Countless fish were killed by ingesting the poison, and gulls diving for the fish couldn't escape the mucky water.
Only about 30 percent of thousands of birds treated survived, according to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Network. A survey of grebes one year later found about 200 in areas that would normally draw up to 7,000.
The ecologic impact of Tuesday's oil spill is unknown, but if it is anything like Summerland's disaster 46 years ago the toll could be more catastrophic.
"We deeply, deeply regret that this incident occurred at all," Plains All American Pipeline CEO Greg Armstrong said at a news conference. "We apologize for the damage that it's done to the wildlife and to the environment." Armstrong said cleanup efforts included sending about 18 vessels to lay thousands of feet of boom along the ocean surface.
Plains estimates about 105,000 gallons may have already spilled near the Channel Islands, based on the elevation of the pipeline and typical flowrate of oil; a fifth of that - 21,000 gallons - streamed into the sea. The oil first ran through a drainage culvert that flowed under the 101 Freeway before emerging onto the beach.
Company officials say results of a routine inspection conducted two weeks ago have not been returned. According to federal records, they have already amassed 175 safety and maintenance infractions over the last nine years, totaling more than $23 million in property damage. In 2010, they paid $3.25 million in civil penalties and spent $41 million to upgrade thousands of miles of pipelines across the United States as a result of multiple Clean Water Act violations.
None of incidents resulted in injuries, but this week's incident may have irreplaceably damaged Santa Barbara's ecosystem. The spill, now stretching about 9 miles along the coast, lies near a national marine sanctuary that houses 25 marine mammal species and 60 species of sea birds.
Whales, sea lions, and seals - which normally migrate north this time of year - now have to find alternative routes. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife closed fishing and shellfish harvesting near Refugio State Beach as a protective measure, especially for endangered terns and snowy plovers who nest in the area.
SeaWorld is one of numerous groups offering help, sending a specialized animal care team to Santa Barbara.
"There are a zillion compounds of crude oil that are toxic to their organs," said Kim Peterson, a team member for the theme park's Oiled Wildlife Care Clinic, in speaking with San Diego Fox 5. "When they come to land it's because there's something devastatingly wrong."
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