Plains Pipeline, the large Texas-based company responsible for the pipe that ruptured in Santa Barbara County, has accumulated 175 safety and maintenance infractions since 2006, according to federal records. It is responsible for the latest Santa Barbara County spill, first claiming "5000" gallons were spilled where in actuality over 500,000 gallons (and counting) were spilled. Plains' rate of incidents per mile of pipe is more than three times the national average. Since 2006 the company's incidents caused more than $23 million in property damage and spilled more than 688,000 gallons of hazardous liquid. Plains Pipeline is apparently indifferent to its responsibilities to our heritage coastline and needs to be shut down before a more massive failure affects us for years or decades.



