Of the nine counts of conviction, eight were misdemeanors, consisting of one count relating to a 25 minute delayed reporting and seven counts under California's strict liability misdemeanor statutes (six animal takings counts and one discharge count).
LOS ANGELES, CA (AP) — A California jury has found a pipeline company guilty of nine criminal charges for causing a 2015 oil spill that was the state's worst coastal spill in 25 years.
The jury in Santa Barbara County reached its verdict against Plains All American Pipeline of Houston on Friday following a four-month trial.
The jury found Plains guilty of a felony count of failing to properly maintain its pipeline and eight misdemeanor charges, including killing marine mammals and protected sea birds.
The company had faced a total of 15 charges for the rupture of a corroded pipeline that sent at least 123,000 gallons (465,000 liters) of crude oil gushing over Refugio State Beach and out to sea.
The spill closed beaches, hurt tourism and fishing, and crippled the local oil business.
Plains apologized and paid for cleanup but denied criminal wrongdoing, saying the spill was an unfortunate accident.
In a statement following the verdict, Plains All American said:
"A jury decision was announced today in the trial against Plains in State Court in Santa Barbara County, California arising out of the accidental release of crude oil from Line 901 in May of 2015. The charges against Plains were brought by the California Attorney General and Santa Barbara County District Attorney following a May 2016 indictment filed against Plains and one of our employees.
"Plains is pleased that (i) our employee was dismissed before trial began; (ii) 37 of the initial 46 charges against the company were either dismissed by the Judge or resulted in acquittals or deadlocks by the jury; and (iii) in particular, that the jury did not find any knowing misconduct by Plains with respect to the operation of Line 901. Of the nine counts of conviction, eight were misdemeanors, consisting of one count relating to a 25 minute delayed reporting and seven counts under California's strict liability misdemeanor statutes (six animal takings counts and one discharge count).
"Plains' operations with respect to Line 901 met and/or exceeded applicable legal and industry standards, and accordingly, we believe that the jury erred in its verdict on one count where applicable California laws allowed a conviction under a negligence standard. We intend to fully evaluate and consider all of our legal options with respect to the trial and resulting jury decision announced today.
"Plains continues to accept full responsibility for the impact of the accident. We are committed to doing the right thing. The verdict reflected no knowing wrongdoing by Plains or our employees with respect to the operation of Line 901, and the testimony established our comprehensive cleanup effort. Numerous witnesses testified that Plains did everything possible to return areas impacted by the 2015 oil release to conditions as good as or better than before the release."
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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KABC) --
The oil spill, which spread across 4 miles of coastline and shuttered beaches for months, happened after a 24-inch pipeline ruptured. The spill sent at least 123,000 gallons of crude oil onto beaches and into the sea.
Plains All-American Pipeline, based out of Houston, was found guilty of one felony count of failing to properly maintain its pipeline and eight misdemeanor charges, including killing marine mammals and protected sea birds.
In the wake of what is considered the state's worst spill in 25 years, the company apologized and paid for cleanup but denied any wrongdoing. The company's 2017 annual report estimated costs from the spill at $335 million, not including lost revenues.
In May 2016, the company was indicted and faced a total of 15 charges in the case. The trial lasted about four months.
The company still faces possible fines from the U.S. government and also faces a federal class-action lawsuit by owners of beachfront properties, fishing boat operators, the petroleum industry and oil workers who lost jobs because of the spill.
Plains All-American Pipeline is the same company that was also involved in an oil spill in Atwater Village in May 2014. A pipeline burst and spewed about 10,000 gallons of oil over a half-mile area.
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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KABC) --
A
ruptured 24-inch pipeline spilled oil into the ocean off Refugio State
Beach, about 20 miles west of Santa Barbara, which spread across 4 miles
of coastline.A citizen reported the leak at about noon Tuesday coming from the pipeline off the 101 Freeway. The pipeline, owned by Santa Maria-based Plains All-American Pipeline, was on land, and the oil flowed from a culvert into the waters.
The culvert was later blocked and the leak was stopped, Plains All-American Pipeline's officials said. It was initially reported an estimated 21,000 gallons of oil spilled into the ocean, but an exact amount was unknown.
"Plains deeply regrets this release has occurred and is making every effort to limit its environmental impact. Our focus remains on ensuring the safety of all involved," Plains All-American Pipeline released in a statement.
Plains All-American Pipeline was also involved in an oil spill in Atwater Village in May 2014, when a burst pipeline spewed about 10,000 gallons of crude oil over a 1/2-mile area.
The U.S. Coast Guard was monitoring clean-up operations. A commercial oil spill response company was helping with the clean-up, Coast Guard officials said.
At one point, whales could be seen swimming in the area. Clean-up crews attempted to push the animals away from the oil.
Concerned citizens also scoured the beaches looking to rescue any animals that may have been caught in the thick, gooey oil. So far, there have been no reports of any injured wildlife, but photos from Santa Barbara-based online news website Noozhawk showed birds caught in the muck.
Officials with the Coast Guard said the sludge is considered a "medium-sized" spill.
Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Exxon, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and California Department of Fish and Wildlife were on scene.
About 20 barrels of oil have been retrieved so far.
The public was urged to avoid the area during clean-up. Refugio Beach and its campground were closed until further notice. Officials said the oil could spread another 2 to 4 miles south down the coast due to the winds and surf.