Months before oil spill, signs of poor record-keeping found

File- This June 10, 2015, file photo shows Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique team members evaluating oil coverage as workers clean up areas affected by an oil spill at Refugio State Beach, north of Goleta, Calif. The pipeline company responsible for an oil spill that blackened California beaches kept shoddy records on emergency training and how it would protect pristine coastline in the event of a break, federal regulators said Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed six violations from inspections begun in 2013 — some 20 months before the May pipeline rupture near Santa Barbara — but imposed no fines. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) File- This June 10, 2015, file photo shows Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique team members evaluating oil coverage as workers clean up areas affected by an oil spill at Refugio State Beach, north of Goleta, Calif. The pipeline company responsible for an oil spill that blackened California beaches kept shoddy records on emergency training and how it would protect pristine coastline in the event of a break, federal regulators said Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed six violations from inspections begun in 2013 — some 20 months before the May pipeline rupture near Santa Barbara — but imposed no fines. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

By Associated Press September 12, 2015 3 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The pipeline company responsible for an oil spill that blackened California beaches kept shoddy records on emergency training and how it would protect pristine coastline in the event of a break, federal regulators said Friday.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed six violations from inspections begun in 2013 – some 20 months before the May pipeline rupture near Santa Barbara – but imposed no fines.

Among the findings, the agency said Texas-based Plains All American Pipeline failed to properly document pressure tests on tanks and failed to keep adequate records on how it would prevent spills in sensitive environmental areas, or respond if one did occur.

The agency said the findings identify areas where the company should improve safety throughout its sprawling pipeline system.

“While the probable violations noted in the enforcement action did not result in a civil penalty, we believe that all safety related issues matter because they reflect the overall safety culture of an organization,” agency spokeswoman Artealia Gilliard said.