MAY 29, 2015—OR&R is continuing to respond to the oil spill that resulted from a pipeline break at Refugio State Beach, near Santa Barbara, California, on May 19, 2015.

The source was secured shortly after the spill last week. Floating oil from the spill in the ocean has diminished but oil from the natural oil seeps in the area is always present. Natural oil seeps are somewhat like springs that leak oil and gas, instead of water, through fractures in the Earth's crust.

The Office of Response and Restoration's Jordan Stout, NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator, has continued to work on-scene throughout the response. According to Stout, any oil substantially east of Santa Barbara (as reported recently at Manhattan Beach) at this time is likely not related to this pipeline release.

See related blog .

For further information, contact Doug.Helton@noaa.gov.

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