
In a decision welcomed by fishermen, environmentalists, and tribal leaders, a grand jury on May 16 indicted the Plains All-American Pipeline company on 46 criminal charges related to the May 2015 oil spill in Santa Barbara County that fouled more than 9 miles of pristine coast.
The 46 counts included four felony and 42 misdemeanor charges. The company was charged with felony violations of state laws regarding the spilling of oil and hazardous substances into state waters.
The grand jury also indicted a Plains employee on three criminal charges, according to a statement from California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley.
Both the company and James Buchanan, an employee, were charged with misdemeanor violations for failing to provide timely notice of the oil spill to the Office of Emergency Services. In addition, the company was indicted on three dozen misdemeanor charges linked to the spill's impact on birds and mammals.
Plains All-American Pipeline faces up to $2.8 million in fines plus additional costs and penalties, according to Harris' office.
Over one year ago on May 19, 2015, a badly corroded pipeline operated by Plains All-American Pipeline, a member of the Western States Petroleum Association, ruptured near Refugio State Beach, releasing approximately 140,000 gallons of heavy crude oil onto land, beaches, and the ocean. The poorly maintained pipeline ruptured after it had worn down to only 1/16 of an inch.
Local, state, and federal government agencies have spent millions of dollars cleaning up the spill, a disaster that resulted in considerable devastation to fish, wildlife, and the ecosystem over a big region, including controversial marine protected areas created under the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative.
Harris said she partnered with local and state law enforcement agencies to conduct a criminal investigation and jointly prosecute the criminal case with Santa Barbara County District Attorney Dudley.
Crimes against our environment must be met with swift action and accountability, said Harris. The carelessness of Plains All-American harmed hundreds of species and marine life off Refugio Beach. This conduct is criminal, and today’s charges serve as