An estimated 21,000 gallons of oil leaked off the California coast

A ruptured pipeline is estimated to have leaked 21,000 gallons of oil into the ocean off California's Santa Barbara County coast on Tuesday.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Andrea Anderson said that by 3:45 p.m., the leak had left a four-mile long sheen of oil along Refugio State Beach in Goleta, the Los Angeles Times reports. The leak was first spotted at noon, and it was stopped by coast guard crews by 3 p.m. The pipeline is operated by Plains All America Pipeline, L.P., and runs along the coast near Highway 101. Investigators are on the scene trying to determine what caused the leak and to coordinate clean up efforts.

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