Large Oil Spill Impacts Several Miles of Beach Near Santa Barbara

Photo via ABC News/Twitter

The U.S. Coast Guard and first responders are responding to a large oil spill that has impacted several miles of shoreline in Santa Barbara County, California.

The Coast Guard reports that the spill occurred Tuesday afternoon around 12 p.m. and the sheen washed ashore along Refugio State Beach, near Santa Barbara.

The source has been confirmed as a ruptured 24-inch pipeline, the Coast Guard said. The source has been secured.

Media has reported that the spill is estimated to be about 21,000 over 100,000 gallons.

The USCG in Los Angeles has reported that the sheen stretches across approximately 4 miles of beach at Refugio Beach.

A commercial oil spill response company has been contracted to begin clean up operations.

In addition to the Coast Guard, California Office of Emergency Services, California Fish and Wildlife, county fire departments, and ExxonMobil are currently on scene.

The responsible party has been identified Plains All-American Pipeline.

A Incident Command Post has been established to respond to the incident.

NEW: Oil spill along California coast after pipeline ruptures: http://t.co/DBta4sYRPF – @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/JtKE8HOvww

— ABC News (@ABC) May 20, 2015

“It would be smart to make plans elsewhere,” @USCGLosAngeles Lt. says of beach before holiday http://t.co/XR54dfMft6 pic.twitter.com/kJtGlJqMKr

— KTLA (@KTLA) May 20, 2015

NEW: Broken pipeline causes oil spill, reported to be four miles wide, near Santa Barbara, CA http://t.co/qSYroIlNRj pic.twitter.com/iKgi3Jv54O

— CBSN (@CBSNLive) May 19, 2015

#BREAKING: Oil spill at Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara Co. prompts emergency response http://t.co/XR54dfMft6 pic.twitter.com/ZhVb4tAiwl

— KTLA (@KTLA) May 19, 2015