Just thirteen months after the massive Refugio Oil Spill fouled the pristine waters off the Santa Barbara Coast, a leak in an oil pipeline in Hall Canyon in Ventura County was reported at 5:30 a.m. on June 23. As many as 700 barrels of crude oil — 29,400 gallons — have been spilled.

According to information released by the Center for Biological Diversity, the company responsible for the Ventura oil spill, Crimson Pipeline, has a decade-long history of oil spills in California.

The latest oil spill is no surprise in a state that prides itself on being a “green leader,” but is in fact the third largest oil producer in the country. The oil industry is the largest and most powerful corporate lobby in California — and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), headquartered in Sacramento, is the largest and most powerful lobbying organization.

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See Also: Big Oil treated legislators to $13,000 dinner before fracking bill vote | Oil Lobby spending in California increases by 400 percent | Big Oil money defeated bill to ban drilling in marine protected area | Brown signs two oil spill bills, but marine protected areas aren't fully protected | WSPA Spent Record $6.75 Million In 3 Months | Biggest-Ever Gusher of Oil Lobby Money Devastates California | Protesters Rally Against WSPA, Oil Caucus | Offshore fracking moratorium off California Coast spurred by lawsuits

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