Spills
Unocal 76 tank farm; avila beach, san luis obispo bay, california
NOAAORR-6893
- issued
- 1992-08-03 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1992-08-17 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1992-08-17 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- North Pacific Ocean
- position
- 35.175, -120.722
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
UNOCAL 76 Tank Farm; Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo Bay, California. Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo Bay, California. 1. On the evening of August 3, 1992, a transfer pipeline at the UNOCAL Tank Farm in Avila Beach, California failed. A reported 150 barrels of San Joaquin heavy crude were pumped through a hole roughly 10 by 5 inches before pumping operations could be stopped. The crude oil flowed downhill through a gully and over a 30-foot bedrock cliff into the Pacific Ocean. UNOCAL Oil Company reported the incident to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Group Monterey, who in turn reported to USCG Marine Safety Office (MSO) San Francisco. UNOCAL assumed responsibility for the incident and called in the services of the local cooperative, Clean Seas, to mitigate the spill. The USCG Captain of the Port assumed the role of Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC). USCG district 11. Keyword: absorbent pads, boom, California Department of Fish and Game, Clean Seas Inc., containment boom, fog, high-pressure washing, [...] 2. COMMODITY: SAN JOAQUIN HEAVY CRUDE. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 6300 GALLONS. 3. POSITION 35.175N 120.722W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 6893: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/6893
This area · spills & pollution incidents
275 within 180 nm since 1969 · 17 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now
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Nearby now · within 120 nm
Worldwide now
7 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all
Spills
Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents →
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