A trial date of January 22, 2018, has been set in the criminal case against Plains All-American Pipeline for its role in the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill. The Texas-based pipeline company ― one of the largest operators in the country ― faces four felony and 42 misdemeanor charges, including causing an oil spill, violating the Clean Water Act, dumping a hazardous substance into water, and making a false or misleading oil spill report.
Plains submitted an application to Santa Barbara County’s Energy Division in August to replace Line 901 , the corroded pipeline that ruptured and released 142,000 gallons of crude oil onto Refugio State Beach and into the Pacific Ocean.
