Pipeline bursts in Yellowstone River
A pipeline in the Yellowstone River burst this past week, flooding 50,400 gallons of oil into the river. The spill occurred approximately five miles north of Glendive, Montana, where residents are now being told to avoid drinking from tap water. The Yellowstone River, which is partially frozen due to the recent extreme temperatures, is the largest undammed river in the United States. Reports of strong odour coming from tap water suggest that the town’s water supply has been severely contaminated.
While the source of the leak has been stopped, the negative impact and effect on the environment will be long lasting, especially since this spill is not an isolated incident.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time an oil spill has occurred. In 2011, an Exxon Mobil pipeline spilled approximately 42,000 gallons of crude oil into the river.
While the leakage into the river was stopped quickly after detection, some residents reported seeing oil trapped under ice as far as 60 miles away from the spill site. The primary issue for Montana officials involves the containment of the spill and the safety of residents. The EPA is currently conducting multiple tests to ensure the removal of all toxins in the contaminated water. While teams are working tediously to clean up the spill, the frozen condition of the river poses additional obstacles.
In a statement released regarding the spill and their efforts to minimize damage, the EPA claims, “Responders are in the process of placing containment structures across the Yellowstone River at Sidney, Mont. approximately 30 miles downstream from the spill location.”
While the quantity of oil in the Yellowstone River is not anywhere close to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the severe impact of the spill on the environment and economy remains prominent. In comparison, the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 had 38,000,000 gallons of oil spilled into the Alaskan Coast. In 2010, the BP oil spill had the largest volume of oil ever released. Also called the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a staggering 210,000,000 gallons was dispersed into the Gulf of Mexico.
– Compiled by Emilio Ghloum