The Yellowstone River suffers from oil spill - The Guardian

Oil of vortices in the Yellowstone River after Exxon Mobil pipeline ruptured near Billings, Montana. Photography: Larry Mayer/AP.

A pipeline Exxon Mobil runs under the Yellowstone River in Montana broke Saturday and released hundreds of barrels of oil into the waterway, causing a plume of 25 miles (40 km) which fouled the banks of the River.

The break in South-central Montana led to temporary evacuations of hundreds of residents on 20 miles of the River, a soft key tourism in the region through famous national park of the same name. Teams of cleaning deploying booms and absorbent material as the plume moved downstream to about 7 mph (10 kph).

The river has no dams on its way to its confluence with the Missouri River, just across the border in Montana, North Dakota. It was not known to what extent the plume could travel.

"The responsible parties will restore the Yellowstone River," said Brian Schweitzer, the Governor of Montana.

Exxon Mobil spokesman Pam Malek said disclosed pipe an estimated 750 to 1,000 barrels of oil for about a half hour before it was closed. Other Exxon officials believe up to 42,000 litres of crude oil escaped (158,982 litres).

Duane Winslow, County Yellowstone of disaster and emergency services Director, said that the plume was dissipating as it moves downstream.

"We're all kind of waiting for it to move down while Exxon is trying to understand how corral this monster,"winslow."said."

"The time could not be worse," said Steve Knecht, Chief of operations of the Montana disaster and emergency services, who added that the plume has been measured at 25 miles near Pompeys pillar national monument. "With the running at flood stage and all debris of Yellowstone, it makes dang tough going there to do anything.".

Brent Peters, fire, head of the city of Laurel, said about 140 people in the region were evacuated as soon as possible concerns Saturday explosions and overpowering vapours. He said that they were allowed to return to 4 hours after the spillage has decreased.

Winslow said hundreds of residents downstream were told to evacuate the hours of the morning that the authorities knocked on doors, but it was not known how much was done.

In a statement, Exxon Mobil said it was sending a team to assist in the cleanup, and that the State and federal authorities had been alerted to spill. The Pipeline Exxon Mobil company "deeply regrets this release", he said.