Let’s put this in perspective: The fine levied by Judge James Herman against Plains All American Pipeline, based in Houston, for the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill was $3.3 million. Plains’ revenue during the last quarter was $8.79 billion. That comes out to more than $4 million per hour. In one hour, Plains made more money than that measly fine. It’s like a parking ticket to you and me.
According to Judge Herman, the
$3.3.million fine was the largest allowed by law, despite the $1.2 billion
the prosecutors requested to cover losses for cleanup, fisheries, commercial
and recreational boating, tourism, and the layoffs of oil workers due to
shutting down the pipeline. Even the judge questioned
whether the fine was enough to discourage future spills on our coastline.
Do we wonder why oil companies and
ancillary businesses continue to target Santa Barbara County, thinking they can
get away with shoddy inspections or complete lack thereof, as was documented in
the case against Plains, which allowed its pipeline to become
so corroded that it split and leaked onto our precious coastline and waters?