Grecka spill estimate hits 44,000 gallons

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Department of Fish and Game officials revised initial estimates of the amount of crude oil spilled at the Greka Energy facility in Santa Maria, lifting the figure to 44,730 gallons, fire officials said.

“That’s up from our original estimate of 33,600 gallons,” County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow said. “…They are still working to recover oil. That number could fluctuate.”
He said cleanup workers have finished about one-third of the creek cleanup effort and expect to complete the task by Friday.
The spill originated at an oil processing plant at 6084 Palmer Rd. on December 7. A faulty pump and an alarm system failure allowed the oil to spew into a seasonal creek bed and flow about half a mile downstream before a passerby alerted authorities.