A small oil
spill came dangerously close to a watering hole frequented by
endangered California Condors in the Sespe Wilderness. A January 30 inspection, made public
the following day, discovered a break, probably caused by the
recent cold weather, on an oil field wastewater line owned by
Vintage Productions California LLC, a subsidiary of Occidental Oil.
About 200 gallons of light crude that had been floating on the
wastewater flowed down Tar Creek (see
map here) until a contracted crews went to work with booms,
earthen berms, suction trucks, and absorbent pads to contain the
slick a mile upstream from the confluence of the two creeks, where
condors have been known to sip.
(Photos courtesy of Los
Padres Forestwatch.)