The Beginning of Environmental Protests - 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spillage

Platform A, Dos Cuadras offshore oil field, Santa Barbara

Doc Searls

by: Sydney Robinson

On January 28th, 1969, one of the largest oil spills in US history occurred off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, sparking a massive wave of student-led environmental protests across the nation.

The oil spillage was attributed to improper safety precautions at Union oil. Union oil is a former American oil corporation that was in operation from 1890 until 1983. Due to improper safety procedures, over 4 million gallons of crude oil between Santa Barbara and Ventura, flooded the Pacific Ocean across the California coastline leading to the loss of biodiversity.

At the time, no adequate cleanup equipment nor processes were in place, which led to the spread of oil across the Californian coastline. This oil spill caused an onset of environmental protests across the world, with students being at the front end.

On January 28th, 1969, workers from Union oil were called in to remove a drill pipe from one of the offshore rigs. This, however, came with its complications. While removing the drill pipe, oil and gas started spilling onto the platform. While workers managed to stop the leak at the top of the well, the pressurized oil and gas still managed to flood into the ocean floor. There were no cleanup procedures in place, which would soon prove itself to be consequential. The spillage took months to slow, and the once diverse wildlife of the Santa Barbara coast began to disappear.

The oil spill caught the country's attention. Protests and environmental protection programs were launched by students and and young adults.

Cleanups were organized and began immediately after the spill. Citizens gathered together regardless of political views, to help clean up the catastrophic mess. Students were primary contributors to this.

The University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) students were some of the first volunteers to help with the rescue of animals, as well as protesting and pushing for further environmental protections and programs in schools throughout the US.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of students and local residents, substantive environmental action was finally undertaken after the catastrophe. In 1970, the worldwide movement “Earth Day” was established in recognition of environmental conservation and protection. The Earth Day movement, organized by 25-year-old Stanford graduate Denis Hayes, became particularly noteworthy in the lives of young students since the date avoided events such as spring break and finals season.

Moreover, state-wide environmental programs were established. One of the country’s first environmental studies programs was found at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and teach-ins regarding environmental protection occurred at over 1,500 US colleges.

Many of today's environmental movements, like Earth Day were formed after the 1969 Santa Barbara spillage. This specific event led to the beginning of environmental protests with young individuals being primary contributors.

The Santa Barbara Oil Spillage was a monumental stepping stone for the advancement of environmental protections. following the event, Union Oil suffered massive fines and backlash, ultimately setting a precedent for events and oil spills leading forward. Additionally, proper safety and cleanup measures were implemented, and federal action soon followed.

Republican President Richard Nixon saw the danger that such incidents posed to the environment. By the end of the 1970s, President Nixon formed the Environmental Protection Agency, which was intended to respond to contamination disasters like such in the future. The Clean Water Act was later passed in 1972.

Federal recognition of the Santa Barbara Oil Spillage demonstrated that regardless of political views, the environment should be everyone's concern. Ultimately, this event struck citizens around the world and caused individuals to recognize how anthropocentric practices can have drastic effects on the environment. The spillage not only caused a surge in environmental advocacy, but also highlighted the ways in which environmental justice encompasses the issues of human rights, social justice, and political corruption. The reaction and initiative of young people, in particular, demonstrated the monumental role of student advocacy in shaping social and political movements.

It must be recognized that climate change is not a problem for one region or country, but a problem for the entire world. If individuals and governments are unwilling to work together to implement environmental protections, catastrophic events will continue to wipe the earth of its rich biodiversity. Oil spills occur all over the world, and events like the Santa Barbara Oil Spillage should be used as a lesson for other countries practicing oil extraction.