EPA update on Yellowstone River oil spill (Silvertip Pipeline), July 20, 2011 (MT)
EPA update on Yellowstone River
oil spill (Silvertip Pipeline), July 20, 2011
Lisa McClain-Vanderpool, (303)
501-4027, (
[email protected]); Wendy Thomi, (406) 351-9014
(Billings, Mont --, July 20, 2011) We
received the revised workplan from ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. last
night at 5pm. EPA, and our state and federal partners will
complete our review of revisions and will make a final decision on
the workplan by early next week. All cleanup activities are
continuing under the direction of the Unified Command.
The Unified Command is testing and
evaluating numerous cleanup options. Today, cleanup crews tested a
high water pressure device for removing oil from flood debris. This
method proved to be ineffective for removing oil and will not
likely be used as a clean up technique. Use of in-situ burning to
address flood debris piles is not being considered for current
operations, although it may still be considered in the future. This
is primarily due to technical and logistical constraints specific
to the sites currently under review.
PLEASE NOTE: Our daily media briefings continue
this week via conference call only, at 3:00pm MDT. For conference
call dial-in information, please contact Lisa McClain-Vanderpool
listed above. We will continue to post the latest information
including monitoring data and progress on clean-up and restoration
as it becomes available on our website,
epa.gov/yellowstoneriverspill.
BACKGROUND: At approximately 11:00 PM
on Friday, July 1 a break occurred in a 12-inch pipeline owned by
ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. that resulted in a spill of crude oil into
the Yellowstone River approximately 20 miles upstream of Billings,
Montana. The current estimate of the amount of oil released remains
at 1,000 barrels based on information provided by ExxonMobil
Pipeline Co. EPA's primary concern is protecting people's
health and the environment. EPA will remain on-site to ensure
cleanup and restoration efforts do just that. EPA continues to hold
ExxonMobil Pipeline Co., the responsible party, accountable for
assessment and cleanup.
Please visit http://www.epa.gov/yellowstoneriverspill
for the latest information, data, and
maps.
The Montana DEQ encourages people to
call the Governor’s information line at 406-657-0231 with
questions or stop into the Governor’s Billings office at 424
Morey Street or visit www.yellowstoneriveroilspill.mt.gov.