Prosecutors announced Tuesday that a Texas pipeline company, and one of its employees, have been indicted on dozens of criminal charges stemming from an oil spill last year.

According to ABC News, Plains All American Pipeline, and one of its employees are facing 46 counts of state law violations stemming from a pipeline spill last May 19th, that released 140,000 gallons of crude oil onto Santa Barbara beaches.

Plains All American Pipeline was charged in Santa Barbara Superior Court with 4 felony counts of spilling oil in state waters, and could face fines of up to $2.8 million dollars if convicted of all of the charges.

Plus, the Houston based company faces three dozen misdemeanor counts of harming wildlife. The company said in statement, that the spill was an accident and they beleive that no criminal behavior occurred.

 

 

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