Bigger Estimate of Alaska Oil Leak Adds Fuel to Debate

SEATTLE

A second leak was detected Friday in a separate transmission pipeline in the North Slope complex about 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The extent or cause of that spill was unknown, but it was not expected to be nearly as large, officials said.

The main spill was discovered March 2 and plugged last weekend. The largest spill along the pipeline occurred shortly after it opened; in 1978, vandals blew up a section of the 800-mile line and spilled 700,000 gallons of oil.

LA Times