Sacramento, CA – State Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) issued the following statement today in response to the news that the source of the tarballs on South Bay beaches was the Refugio oil spill:

“Unfortunately, we now have confirmation of what we feared was the case – that the tarballs washing up on our South Bay beaches came from the Refugio oil spill in Santa Barbara County.  As a member of the newly created Senate Select Committee on the Refugio Oil Spill, I will be working with my colleagues in the days and weeks ahead to thoroughly investigate how this tragic environmental disaster was allowed to happen, what changes can be made to prevent such a devastating spill in the future, and what can be done to hold the responsible parties accountable.  Our extraordinary coastline is far too vital to be placed at risk of this type of spill ever again.”

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