More Spills From Greka, U.S. EPA Issues Fourth Major Enforcement Order

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Greka Oil and Gas, Inc. to immediately comply with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act at their Williams B Lease, or face fines of up to $32,500 per day, for each violation.

This is the fourth enforcement order issued to Greka by the EPA since January 2008.

“Greka’s continued pattern of non compliance with the Clean Water Act will result in continued enforcement actions by USEPA,” said Daniel Meer, Chief of the Response, Planning and Assessment Branch for the Superfund Division in the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “This company has to make a commitment at the corporate level to clean up its act.”

At the direction of the EPA, and with EPA oversight, Greka has been engaged in clean up efforts at Greka’s recent spill sites.

The EPA is issuing these enforcement orders to ensure that cleanup is completed expeditiously, comprehensively, and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

The EPA continues to work with members of the California Department of Fish and Game, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Pacific Strike Team, and Greka Oil and Gas, the responsible party, to contain and clean up Greka’s multiple recent oil releases, to prevent further harm to the environment.