California oil spill gushed like hose 'without a nozzle'

A Plains company spokeswoman would not comment Thursday on why it took until later in the afternoon for its workers to confirm the line was cracked and spilling thousands of gallons of oil onto the sand and water west of Santa Barbara.

A key issue has been how long it took the Texas-based company to relay information on the break to the federal government.

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is investigating the cause of the accident, and state prosecutors have been considering potential charges against the company.

At a state legislative hearing Friday in Santa Barbara, Mark S. Ghilarducci, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, was asked if the company met state requirements for prompt notification.

The panel said the California spill raised questions about the agency's oversight of pipeline safety and added that the agency had failed to complete 17 of 42 requirements Congress outlined in 2011 to help prevent spills.

At the legislative hearing, Janet Wolf, chair of the county board of supervisors, said county officials were concerned the pipeline company was exerting too much influence on operations following the spill, while local officials were being excluded.