Plains All-American Pipeline fined over $3M for oil spill on Santa Barbara County coastline

The oil company blamed for the oil spill at Refugio State Beach in 2015 has been fined $3.3 million.

Plains All-American Pipeline was found guilty of that 142,000-gallon crude oil spill in May 2015 with the jury saying the company knew or should have known their pipeline would rupture discharging crude oil into state waters.

Thousands of animals that included fish, birds, and marine mammals were killed or injured. The spill also led to the closure of beaches and recreational areas.

Prosecutors also want the oil company to pay $1.2 billion in fines and penalties.

Plains All-American Pipeline says it will appeal the decision.

FOX 11 reported on this story from Los Angeles