According to the complaint, announced June 17 by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region and the California Department of Fish and Game, Greka illegally discharged crude oil and produced water from its oil and gas production facilities in Santa Barbara County during 21 spills between June 2005 and December 2010. The spills resulted from ruptured storage tanks, corroded pipelines and overflowing injection ponds. Oil from each of the spills flowed into nearby waterways.
The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, also alleges that at 12 facilities, Greka failed to prepare plans and implement measures required by the Clean Water Act to prevent, contain, and respond to spills.
The lawsuit asks the court to order Greka to take all appropriate action to prevent future spills, and to fully implement the oil pollution prevention requirements of the Clean Water Act. The United States and the two California state agencies also seek civil penalties up to the maximum amount authorized by law.
In addition, the United States seeks the recovery of $2.4 million in costs incurred responding to and directing the cleanup of Greka’s spills. The California Department of Fish and Game also seeks the recovery of its unpaid response costs and damages for harm caused to natural resources by the spills.
In May 2011, Greka changed its name to HVI Cat Canyon Inc. The company is a privately held Colorado corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greka Integrated Inc.