Yellowstone River Cleanup and Recovery Update
BILLINGS, Mont.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ExxonMobil Pipeline Company provided the following update as Unified Command cleanup operations continued Thursday following a release of oil into the Yellowstone River on July 1.
CLEANUP STATUS
Under the direction of the Unified Command, more than 500 people are now involved in the response and cleanup effort including ExxonMobil's North America Regional Response Team, the Clean Harbors and ER oil spill response organizations and additional contractors. More than 300 people are along the river banks today to clean up oil.
More than 75,000 feet of absorbent boom is on site, with more than 8,000 feet deployed to clean up oil adjacent to the river. More than 400,000 absorbent pads are on site with more than 150,000 deployed.
Two isolated spots of oil have been located beyond 20 miles of the release point; however, we have not discovered any oil between 20 and 40 miles from the site of the release. One spot was located approximately 40 miles from the site of the release and the second spot was found approximately 80 miles away.
Two aerial flights will be conducted today to continue to monitor the area and direct cleanup operations. Today's flights are scheduled to survey an area up to 200 miles from the site of the oil release and as further information comes in, we can dispatch additional flights as necessary.
Eight boats are staged at Coulson Park for deployment for monitoring on the river when conditions permit and 12 additional vessels have been ordered.
Ongoing air quality monitoring has confirmed there is no danger to public health. For additional information, please go to www.riverstonehealth.org. Municipal water systems are being notified to monitor water quality by the EPA; no reports of impacts have been received to date. The EPA is also monitoring water quality.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS
Direct contact with landowners who have been affected by the spill are underway. We are working with landowners to address their individual concerns. Those who may have been affected are encouraged to use the claims hotline (1-888-382-0043) for more information.
WILDLIFE ASSESSMENT AND RECOVERY
We have been working with International Bird Rescue and the Montana Fish and Wildlife and Parks Departments to survey the area for impacts to wildlife. Members of the team have been deployed to inspect the property of landowners who have called the claims and wildlife hotlines.
Yesterday, International Bird Rescue collected a garter snake on a landowner's property. The snake was cleaned on site and released.
HOTLINE INFORMATION
Claims hotline: Individuals in the community who might have been impacted by this event are encouraged to contact the claims hotline number (1-888-382-0043).
Wildlife hotline: Anyone who comes across wildlife that have been impacted by the spill are asked to use the wildlife hotline number (1-800-259-0596).
Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation
Released July 7, 2011