The U.S. Coast Guard launched an emergency cleanup off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, where a pipeline leaked 21,000 gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday. The Coast Guard reported an oil slick on around four miles of beach and 50 yards into the ocean. Officials said winds could carry the oil an additional four miles south. It’s unclear what caused the break, but the oil leaked into a culvert that extended to the ocean. The pipeline has since been shut off, and federal, state, and local authorities were on the scene to begin cleanup efforts.
Wind direction pushing oil south towards Isla Vista pic.twitter.com/k5WcL5Shsv
— Bill Martin (@BillMartinKTVU) May 19, 2015