Scientists Warn of Damage to Offshore Ecosystem After Coastal Oil Spill

Scientists are warning of long-term environmental damage to California’s coast caused by this week’s oil spill, despite a ramped-up effort to contain and clean up a leak which now stretches over 11 miles of coastline.
The warning on Friday came amid fresh revelations about the safety standards and oversight of the company which owns the pipeline that ruptured on Tuesday, spewing more than 100,000 gallons of crude on to coastal lands and into the Pacific off Santa Barbara.
It was reported that Plains All American Pipeline is the only company in Santa Barbara County allowed to operate outside the regulatory oversight of county energy planners and safety officers.
The Houston-based company operates the pipeline.
The Sanda Barabar Independent stated the anomaly meant Plains was not obliged to equip the pipeline with an automatic shutdown valve in case of rupture.