Vandals Spill Oil Into Creek Bed : Environment: Crews say the 3,000-gallon leak, caused when valves were opened, will be fairly easy to clean.

Vandals opened valves on three storage tanks at a remote Santa Clarita oil facility and spilled about 3,000 gallons of crude oil, 500 of which flowed into a dry creek bed, authorities said Thursday.

No significant damage occurred, said Chris Marlahand, a warden overseeing the cleanup for the state Department of Fish and Game.

Most of the oil flowed into two dirt berm containment areas hastily built by Los Angeles County firefighters at Hillside Oil Partners, located west of Sierra Highway and south of Dockweiler Drive, Sheriff’s Deputy Roger Hom said.

Marlahand said the Wednesday night spill poses little environmental hazard because the creek has been dry for some time, and the oil was thick and will be relatively easy to clean.

“It was not a moving stream, and there were no fish or aquatic life, so it didn’t get very far or cause much damage,” he said. “The cleanup should also be easier because the creek bed is of sand and not rock, which is harder to clean.”

Glen Davis, business manager of the firm, said the company has not received any threats nor is there any evidence to indicate that the incident is connected to any protest of the Persian Gulf war.

“We are almost positive that it has nothing to do with that,” Davis said. “But it appears whoever did it knew what he was doing.”

Deputies said they have no suspects.

The spill was discovered about 9:25 p.m. Wednesday during a routine inspection by workers at the oil field. Company officials found that three-inch valves on the 42,000-gallon-capacity tanks had been opened.

Employees immediately began the cleanup effort using large vacuums and machinery that separates oil from soil. The cleanup is expected to be completed by Monday, Davis said.