By the time Plains All American Pipeline shut down the faulty pipe responsible for Tuesday’s oil spill, the oil slick was about four miles long and 50 yards deep. Last night, the slick reportedly reached nine miles.
In the aftermath of the spill, cleanup crews have been working nonstop to corral the spill and remove as much oil as possible. As of this morning, they have managed to take care of approximately 7,700 gallons.
Although 7,700 gallons seems like a lot, it is just a fraction of the estimated 105,000 gallons of crude oil that blanketed a large swath of the California coast on Tuesday. About 21,000 gallons from the spill reached the Pacific Ocean.
The cause of the leak is unknown, but Plains All American Pipeline will begin investigating the pipeline today.
Natural Resources Defense Council spokesperson Bob Deans told The Associated Press, “Big oil comes with big risk — from drilling to delivery.”
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