Tag: Pacific Ocean

Plains All American, Refugio Oil Spill, Santa Barbara
Energy, Tar Sands

Santa Barbara Oil Spill Spreading: Big Oil Plans for More Tar Sands

The most recent oil spill on the Santa Barbara coast that has decimated wildlife and soiled California beaches with tar over a 350-mile area has been an unmitigated disaster. It illustrates weaknesses in basic safety measures for pipelines and crude by rail, as well as risks associated with industry plans to expand tar sands and other extreme drilling infrastructure on the West Coast.

s, climate change
Climate, Oceans, Wildlife

California Sea Lion Suffering Warming Pacific, Disappeared Sardines

Sick, starving and dying sea lion pups are washing up on the shores of California in record numbers this year. The culprit? An unusual blob of record warm water parked off the North Pacific Coast for a year and a half, affecting circulation and weather patterns with no relief in sight. Hence, sardine fisheries have collapsed with wildlife heading north.