Coast Guard investigating oil sheen reported off Summerland Beach near Santa Barbara

Authorities said it's coming from an area with very active seeps where crude oil leaks from fractures in the seafloor.

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Sunday, January 8, 2023
Coast Guard investigating oil sheen reported near Santa Barbara
The Coast Guard is investigating the source of an oil slick spotted off the coast of Summerland Beach.

SUMMERLAND, Calif. (KABC) -- The Coast Guard is investigating the source of an oil slick spotted off the coast of Summerland Beach.

The sheen is roughly five miles from Santa Barbara.

Authorities said it's coming from an area with very active seeps where crude oil leaks from fractures in the seafloor.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife said much of oil has been too light to recover.

The cause of the sheen, which is about 2 miles long, is unknown.

As of Friday Coast Guard said there are no reports of wildlife being harmed from the CDFW.