Broken pipeline spills oil into ocean off Santa Barbara

An estimated 21,000 gallons of crude oil dumped into the ocean from a broken pipeline just off the central California coast before it was shut off on Tuesday, creating a spill stretching about 4 miles along the beach, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The central site of the spill, Refugio State Beach, has been shut down by Santa Barbara County health officials, according to The Associated Press.

Plains All American Pipeline owns the 24-inch pipeline.

"Plains deeply regrets this release has occurred and is making every effort to limit its environmental impact," the company said in a statement.

Read more from The Associated Press.