~ After oil spilled in Yellowstone River... Residents told not to drink water ~ A Montana pipeline burst sent as much as 50,400 gallons of oil gushing into the Yellowstone River, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency. Residents in nearby cities were told not to drink the tap water, which some said smelled like diesel. The massive oil spill happened when the 12-inch pipeline, which crosses the Yellowstone River, ruptured Saturday about 5 miles upstream from Glendive, Montanas Department of Environmental Quality said. The Bridger Pipeline company shut down the pipeline. Glendive City Council member Gerald Reichert was among the residents who noticed a disturbing odor in the drinking water. Suddenly at our house there was a definite smell. It was a diesel smell, Reichert told the Grand Forks Herald. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced a state of emergency for Dawson and Richland counties. And while officials wait for results from water sample testing, theyre advising residents to use bottled water for drinking and cooking. A host of agencies have responded to the oil spill, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services. Adding to the problems, the weather: the Yellowstone River is partially frozen, making it difficult to clean up the mess. This isnt the first major oil spill into the Yellowstone River -- the longest undammed river in the United States. In 2011, up to 42,000 gallons poured out of a ruptured Exxon Mobil pipeline. MORE READ & VIDEO.... edition.cnn/2015/01/20/us/yellowstone-river-spill/
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:58:30 +0000