Refugio Beach Oil Spill:
Mapping NOAA's Work from Response to Restoration
A Pipeline Bursts
On May 19, 2015, during Memorial Day Weekend, a pipeline owned and operated by Plains All American Pipeline ruptured near Refugio State Beach near Santa Barbara, California.
Over 100,000 gallons of crude oil were spilled, much of which ran down a storm drain and into a ravine under the freeway, entering the ocean.
Scientists documented dead fish, invertebrates, fish, birds and marine mammals in the oiled areas following the spill. The pollution also shut down fisheries, closed beaches, and impacted outdoor recreation. NOAA began working with our partners to investigate the impacts of the spill.
This work culminated in on October 14th, 2020 when a $22.3 million settlement was finalized to restore natural resources injured by the Refugio Beach oil spill.
Overflight photograph of Refugio Beach Oil Spill (U.S Coast Guard).
Tools of the Trade
Data Integration Visualization Exploration and Reporting (DIVER):
DIVER is a data warehouse platform that puts massive amounts of pollution data at decision maker's fingertips. During the Refugio oil spill response it documented environmental injuries, made data searchable, and fueled ERMA maps.
Combining DIVER's data management and ERMA's for mapping helped NOAA and our partners make response decisions, record the spill's impacts, and reach a settlement for restoration.
Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA):
ERMA is an online mapping tool that provides a common operating platform that allows emergency responders from a range of agencies to upload and display oil spill and environmental data. During the Refugio response, experts used ERMA to map the spill footprint, track oiled wildlife, assess impacts, and make coordinated decisions about cleanup.
By managing, mapping, and making data easily accessible, ERMA puts data in the hands of decision-makers and facilitates sound science.
Keep Scrolling to See ERMA & DIVER in Action
Photos of the Refugio Beach oil spill response. From left to right: 1. oiled sea lion pup recovered (Credit: USFWS). 2. dolphins swimming through oiled water (Credit: USCG). 3. oil slick seen from above (Credit: USCG). 4. oil spill cleanup crew (Credit: USFWS). 5. scientists collecting samples on a sandy beach (USFWS). 6. oiled rocks and sand (Credtit: State of California). 7. sea lion on a beach (Credit: USFWS). 8. oiled shoreline (Credit: NOAA).
A $22 M Pollution Settlement for Restoration
On October 14, 2020 the Department of Justice finalized a consent decree for a $22.3 million settlement, with $20 million going towards restoration. After coordinating with NOAA partners and the public, a restoration plan was finalized in June of 2021.
These funds are facilitating restoration projects that compensate for injuries to fish, wildlife, habitats, and outdoor recreation opportunities injured as a result of the oil spill. The implementation of these restoration projects is ongoing.
Data Tools Designed for Response and Restoration
The Refugio Beach oil spill illustrated the importance of having data management and spatial data sharing tools ready to be deployed at a moments notice. These lessons learned are helping to prepare NOAA experts for the next oil spill disaster.
Today, ERMA & DIVER continue to be used to share information about the Refugio Beach spill, make data publicly accessible, and track restoration efforts.
Release of rehabilitated brown pelicans (USFWS)
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