Greka Energy Spills Oil Again

Already the most frequent onshore oil polluter in Santa Barbara County, Greka Energy spilled again earlier this afternoon, leaking at least 420 gallons of crude at a facility just south of Santa Maria, according to Santa Barbara County Fire officials. Tipped off about the spill with a 911 call shortly after 3 p.m. today, authorities are reporting that between 10 and 15 barrels of oil and an unknown amount of produced water spilled out of a broken production line and onto Palmer Road near Greka’s Bell Lease. Initial reports indicate the spill has not reached the nearby Sisquoc River seasonal tributary. As a result of the mishap, California Highway Patrol has closed Palmer Road in between Highway 101 and Dominion Road.

The Bell Lease facility, after a spill last winter, was temporarily shut down by county officials and had its clean-up efforts federalized by Environmental Protection Agency before being allowed to reopen in April.