An Oil Spill Fouls the California Coastline

An oil pipeline burst yesterday, spilling an estimated 21,000 gallons (79,500 liters) of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara, California. The oil slick spread at least four miles along Refugio State Beach by sunset, as emergency response and cleanup crews converged on the scene. The pipeline was secured hours after the discovery of the spill, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

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