During a Coast Guard news conference, officials announced that as much as 1.1 million gallons of oil may have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from a pipeline system off the coast of Louisiana. The affected pipeline, owned by Main Pass Oil Company, a subsidiary of Houston-based Third Coast Infrastructure LLC, has been shut down while authorities work to determine the exact location and cause of the leak.

Despite the significant amount of oil released, none of it has reached land so far. However, the impact on wildlife is still being investigated. Over the weekend, two oily pelicans were sighted off the Louisiana coast, but they appeared to be active and capable of flying, according to a Fish and Wildlife official.

The oil discharge was discovered amidst high winds in the Gulf, which helped some of the oil evaporate and disperse. However, there were still visible sheens and patches, as reported by Capt. Kelly Denning, the Coast Guard's New Orleans sector commander.

The leak was initially detected last Thursday, prompting the closure of the 67-mile long undersea pipeline. WWL-TV reported that pipeline gauges indicated a loss of 1.1 million gallons of oil, a figure that federal officials later confirmed. While this amount is significantly less than the 2010 BP oil disaster, which released 134 million gallons of oil, environmental groups still described the spill as "huge."

The Center for Biological Diversity issued a statement criticizing the oil industry for prioritizing profit over environmental protection. They expressed concern for the Gulf's diverse marine life, including dolphins, birds, and rare whales. The spill has once again put these animals under siege, according to the environmental group.

The Coast Guard and other authorities are continuing their efforts to locate the exact source of the leak and assess the potential impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Meanwhile, Main Pass Oil Company has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.