Refugio

Summary

LOCATION: Refugio and El Capitan State Beaches, Santa Barbara Channel, and portions of the southern California coastline south to the Los Angeles area.
DATE: May 19, 2015
INCIDENT SUMMARY: An underground pipeline running parallel to Highway 101 ruptured near Refugio State Beach, spilling over 123,000 gallons of crude oil, much of which ran down a ravine under the freeway and entered the ocean.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY: Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., and Plains Pipeline, L.P. (jointly, Plains)
NATURAL RESOURCE TRUSTEES: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; California Department of Parks and Recreation; California State Lands Commission; University of California; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the Department of Interior through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
RESOURCES IMPACTED: Birds, marine mammals, fish, coastal and subtidal habitats, and human uses.
SETTLEMENT DETAILS: The trustees settled the NRDA portion of the case for $22 million. This includes $2.2 million for bird restoration, $2.3 million for marine mammal restoration, $5.5 million for shoreline habitat restoration, $6.1 for subtidal and fish habitat restoration, $3.9 million for human use and recreational improvements, and $2 million for administration and oversight.

Final Refugio Beach Oil Spill Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Draft Refugio Beach Oil Spill Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Michael Anderson
Email: Michael.Anderson@wildlife.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 375-6672