LOS ANGELES (KRON/AP) – Last spring’s oil spill from a ruptured pipeline near Santa Barbara may have been far larger in volume than earlier projected.
Plains All American Pipeline had estimated the May 19 rupture spewed up to 101,000 gallons of oil into the Pacific.
But in documents released Wednesday, the Texas-based company said alternate calculations found the spill might have been up to 143,000 gallons.
The company is continuing its analysis and the figures are preliminary.
The spill fouled beaches for miles and prompted a weeks-long closure of the popular Refugio State Beach. Cleanup crews have responded to reports of tar balls from as far away as Orange County.
The oil pipeline company has been criticized for taking about 90 minutes to alert federal responders after confirming the spill west of Santa Barbara that spread goo on beaches as far as 100 miles away.