Fact: The largest natural gas and oil seeps in the Western Hemisphere are located in the Santa Barbara Channel and the second largest, most active concentration of such seeps in the world. According to modern studies released by California State Lands Commission, there are more than 2,000 active submarine seeps along the California coast and more than 1,200 charted natural seeps in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Fact: Scientists have been studying the effects of the intense offshore oil and gas seepage in the Santa Barbara Channel since the 1940’s. Studies have shown that seeps are a major source of pollution in Santa Barbara County.
Fact: Every day our coastal environment is being polluted by natural gas and oil seeps at the rate of approximately 10,000 gallons per day or 240 barrels per day. That means that over the course of 12 months—or every twelve-month cycle—more than 86,000 barrels per year our water and coastal environment has endured the effects of the same pollution that resulted from Santa Barbara’s 1969 catastrophic oil spill. And every 3 – 4 years 270,000barrels of oil pollute the Santa Barbara Channel, which is equivalent of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s coastal waters.
Fact: Santa Barbara’s air quality has historically violated both state and federal quality standards. Strict regulations have been enforced to reduce the man-made sources. Reactive organic compounds (ROC) are a significant pollutant contributing to the formation of smog. Offshore natural gas seeps contribute approximately 6,000 tons per year of ROCs to Santa Barbara’s air pollution—all transportation vehicles in the county contribute about 4,800 tons per year.
Fact: In the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) of Santa Barbara County 2007Clean Air Plan, the reactive organic gases from these natural oil and gasseeps are identified as the greatest source of air pollution in the county.
