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U.S. EPA Assumed Takeover of Cleanup at Greka Site Nearly Complete EPA assumed control of all work at the Bell Tank Facility and Lease in April

Release Date: 05/22/2008
Contact Information: Mary Simms, (415) 947-4270, [email protected]

****Members of the media are invited to attend the site Friday, ask questions and gather images.****

(5/22/08 -- SAN FRANCISCO) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency anticipates marking a major milestone this Friday when it expects cleanup at Greka’s Bell Lease site will be complete.

The EPA has removed the Upper Bell Pond due to gross subsurface oil contamination of soil. Approximately 5,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil have been removed for off-site disposal.

On April 1, the EPA assumed control of all clean up efforts at the Bell Lease site and completed the work started by Greka’s contractor. As part of the cleanup, the EPA, with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Game, restored the creek to prevent erosion during rain. The EPA also removed approximately 3,276 cubic yards of oil-impacted solids from the western Upper Bell Pond -- the source of the January spill -- for off-site disposal at a permitted hazardous waste disposal facility.

To RSVP please email [email protected] with your affiliation and contact information.

WHO: Robert Wise, Superfund on-scene coordinator, U.S. EPA, Pacific Southwest

WHAT: Media availability

WHEN: Friday, May 23 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Greka Oil and Gas, Inc. Bell Lease site located at 6801 Palmer Rd., Santa Maria