E.P.A. update on Yellowstone River oil spill (Silvertip Pipeline), July 18, 2011

E.P.A. update on Yellowstone River oil spill (Silvertip Pipeline), July 18, 2011
Lisa McClain-Vanderpool, (303) 501-4027, ([email protected]); Wendy Thomi, (406) 351-9014

(Billings, Mont --, July 18, 2011) Over the weekend, EPA, State and federal partners oversaw ExxonMobil Pipeline Co.'s removal of all the residual oil and oily water mixture from the 2 segments of pipeline on either side of the break location. The threat of secondary delivers from the ruptured portion of the pipeline has been eliminated. Going forward, the pipeline break location is under the jurisdiction of DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

The river levels continue to drop, giving our Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) teams and cleanup crews more access to vegetation and shoreline. At this point approximately 47 river miles of shoreline have been assessed. Overall there is light to moderate oil coverage on most shoreline and island vegetation representing 10% or less of oil coverage in a given area. We are also finding large, more heavily oiled flood debris piles at various locations along the shoreline and on the islands. In developing cleanup techniques we are carefully considering wildlife and habitat to ensure our remedies do not cause more harm than good.

The U.S.F.W.S. has reported that 19 oiled animals have been seen (but not yet captured), including a bald eagle, and ten dead animals that have been collected for analysis. 5 animals have been captured for cleaning and care. For more information, please contact Leith Edgar, USFWS, 303-236-4580.

ExxonMobil has received a substantial number of comments from EPA, Montana state agencies and other stakeholders on their outline work plan. They will revise the outline based on these comments and submit it to E.P.A. for approval by tomorrow evening.

PLEASE NOTE: Our daily media briefings occur now 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 accessible on our website, www.epa.gov/yellowstoneriverspill.

BACKGROUND: At approximately 11:00 PM on Friday, July one 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. E.P.A. will remain on-site to ensure cleanup and restoration efforts do just that. E.P.A. 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, concerns or comments, or visit www.yellowstoneriveroilspill.mt.gov.

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