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EPA Update on Yellowstone River Oil Spill (Silvertip Pipeline), August 12th, 2011

Release Date: 08/12/2011
Contact Information: Matthew Allen, (720) 237-7414; Libby Faulk, (303) 548-3967; John Dalton (303) 524-2459

EPA Update on Yellowstone River Oil Spill (Silvertip Pipeline), August 12th, 2011

Matthew Allen, (720) 237-7414; Libby Faulk, (303) 548-3967; John Dalton (303) 524-2459

(Billings, Mont --, August 12, 2011) EPA continues to oversee the response to the ExxonMobil Silvertip Pipeline Spill on the Yellowstone River near Billings, Mont. EPA will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure ExxonMobil Pipeline Company addresses any and all potential impacts of this spill. EPA will continue to direct and oversee the cleanup and restoration of the Yellowstone River and will continue to work to ensure people's health and the environment are protected.

There are over 1,000 personnel engaged in cleanup and shoreline assessment efforts. Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) teams have assessed more than 6,500 acres. Several segments are ready for review and sign off and are on the schedule to be inspected by SCAT teams once their initial assessments are completed.

“Right now we’re progressing through the work plan as scheduled, and SCAT teams have made a lot of progress,” said Craig Myers, EPA On-Scene Coordinator. “At this point things appear to be happening on schedule.”

EPA sampling results for air, water, soil, and sediment data are still available on the EPA spill website. The data shows there are no levels of concern in the water and no elevated levels above instrument detection for volatile organic compounds. EPA site-specific soil sampling result letters went out to 40 landowners affected by the Yellowstone River oil spill. Results and a fact sheet on the crude oil samples and an Agricultural Fact Sheet are available at the EPA website as well.

Please visit https://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, concerns or comments, or visit www.yellowstoneriveroilspill.mt.gov.

BACKGROUND: At approximately 11:00 PM on Friday, July 1 a break occurred in a 12-inch pipeline owned by ExxonMobil that resulted in a spill of crude oil into the Yellowstone River approximately 20 miles upstream of Billings, Montana. 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 Company, the responsible party, accountable for assessment and cleanup.