Lights are on at an offshore oil platform at sunset near Santa Cruz Island, California. There are currently 20 offshore oil platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel. 15 are located in federal waters, 1 is located in state waters in Santa Barbara County, and the remaining 4 are in state waters in Ventura County. The federally run Minerals Management Service estimates that there is a 41.2% chance of a 1,000 barrel or greater spill for the next 28 years in this area.* Such spills represent a... more »
Lights are on at an offshore oil platform at sunset near Santa Cruz Island, California. There are currently 20 offshore oil platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel. 15 are located in federal waters, 1 is located in state waters in Santa Barbara County, and the remaining 4 are in state waters in Ventura County. The federally run Minerals Management Service estimates that there is a 41.2% chance of a 1,000 barrel or greater spill for the next 28 years in this area.* Such spills represent a significant hazard to marine ecosystems, which is of even greater concern considering the proximity of these offshore platforms to Channel Islands National Park, home to several species found nowhere else in the world. (*www.sbck.org) « less
