EPA: ‘Greka
cleaned up’
The U.S. Environmental Agency has announced that Phase I of the Greka
Oil and Bell Lease located at 680l Palmer Road in Santa Maria has been cleaned
up. After assuming responsibility for the cleanup at Greka,
the federal agency completed the work begun by a Greka
contractor. With the assistance of the California Department of Fish and Game,
EPA restored the creek where oil and produced water had leaked. Backfill and
erosion control materials to a depth of about two inches were placed in the
creek bed. The EPA removed approximately 3.276 cubic yards of oil-impacted
solids from the western Upper Bell Pond, which was the source of the January
spill.
Further efforts will
continue, after seepage began to appear in the excavated areas. The EPA is
assessing the vertical and horizontal effects of the continuing seepage.