The oil spill in Santa Barbara County, Calif., could be as large as 2,500 barrels, or 105,000 gallons, in a worst-case scenario outlined Wednesday by the burst pipeline’s operator, which estimated 500 barrels may have reached the water. As an investigation and cleanup efforts began in the aftermath of Tuesday’s spill near the shore, federal officials said the oil had spread into two large patches in the Pacific Ocean, covering an area 9 miles long by midday. Wednesday night, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the county, which frees up emergency state funding and resources to help in the cleanup. It was uncertain how much oil seeped from the pipeline operated by Plains All American Pipeline LP. Initial estimates had put the leak at 500 barrels, or 21,000 gallons, of oil. Cleanup crews […]