Exxon claims spill damage limited, Governor doubtful

July 04, 2011 11:09 am | Updated 11:09 am IST - LAUREL

Exxon logo seen at a Dallas gas station. File Photo

Exxon logo seen at a Dallas gas station. File Photo

Authorities struggled to gauge the environmental and crop damage from tens of thousands of gallons (litres) of oil that spilled into the legendary Yellowstone River, as Montana’s governor criticized Exxon Mobil for downplaying the possible scope of the disaster.

A break in a company pipeline near Laurel fouled miles (kilometres) of riverbank and forced municipalities and irrigation districts to close intakes across eastern Montana.

Exxon Mobil brought in more cleanup workers Sunday to mop up crude at three sites along the flooded river that were coated with thick globs of crude. Yet there was no clear word on how far the damage extended along a scenic river famous for its fishing and vital to farmers who depend on its water for their crops.

Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Sonya Pennock said its staff had spotted oil at least 40 miles (64 kilometres) downstream. There were other reports of oil as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away, near the town of Hysham.

Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co. president Gary Pruessing said flyovers had shown most of the damage was limited to a 10-mile (16-kilometer) stretch of river. One of the company’s main cleanup sites was about 20 miles (32 kilometres) downstream of the break.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer dismissed Pruessing’s claim as premature. The Democratic governor said Exxon Mobil needed to get more personnel to inspect the situation close-up. He also slammed Pruessing’s statement to reporters that no injured wildlife had been found.

“For somebody to say at this early stage that there’s no damage to wildlife, that’s pretty silly,” Schweitzer said. “The Yellowstone River is important to us. We’ve got to have a physical inspection of that river in small boats -- and soon.”

Local media have carried photos of apparently oiled pelicans and turtles. Pennock said she can’t confirm any damage to wildlife or fish kills, but investigators were checking and she expected to know more Monday.

About 120 Exxon workers arrived at the site on Sunday. The company estimated that up to 1,000 barrels spilled Saturday before the flow from the damaged pipeline was stopped. An EPA representative said only a small fraction of the spilled oil was likely to be recovered.

State officials earlier reported a 25-mile (40-kilometer) long slick headed downstream toward the Yellowstone’s confluence with the Missouri River, just across the Montana border in North Dakota. Authorities had no further reports on that slick, and Pruessing said the oil appeared to be evaporating and dissipating as the Yellowstone carries it downstream.

Pruessing also said that the pipeline had been temporarily shut down in May because of concerns over the rising waters on the Yellowstone. He said the company decided to restart the line after examining its safety record and deciding the risk was low.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees pipelines, last year issued a warning letter to Exxon Mobil that cited seven safety violations along the ruptured Silvertip pipeline. Two of the warnings faulted the company for its emergency response and pipeline corrosion training.

Transportation department spokeswoman Patricia Klinger said the company has since responded to the warnings and the case was closed.

The company and government officials have speculated that high waters in recent weeks may have scoured the river bottom and exposed the pipeline to debris that could have damaged the pipe.

Crews were putting absorbent material along short stretches of the river in Billings and near Laurel, but no attempts were made at capturing oil farther out. In some areas, oil flowed underneath booms.

EPA on-scene coordinator Steve Way said fast flows along the flooding river were spreading the oil over a large area, making it harder to capture. But Way said that also could reduce damage to wildlife and cropland along the river.

Property owners said they could not wait long for Exxon to clean up, particularly in agricultural areas where crops and grazing pastures were at risk. The Yellowstone River also is popular among fishermen, though areas further upriver from the spill are more heavily trafficked.

Workers first became aware of a problem with the pipeline when pressure readings dropped early Saturday. Pruessing said workers began shutting down the line within six minutes, although company officials declined to say how long that process took.

The spill was small compared to other oil-related disasters, such as the 11 million gallons (41.64 million litres) leaked by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska in 1989. But officials said the pristine nature of the Yellowstone, along with its turbulent waters and riverside communities, complicated their cleanup efforts and attempts to assess the damage.

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