ExxonMobil Pipeline says cleanup work ongoing after Montana oil spill
ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. provided the following update as Unified Command cleanup operations continued Wednesday following the July 1 release of oil into the Yellowstone River in Montana.
Cleanup status
Under the direction of the Unified Command, almost 700 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.
The company said it deployed more than 43,000 feet of boom and approximately 260,000 absorbent pads to clean up oil adjacent to the river.
Deployment continues to focus on the highest priority areas to reduce environmental impact, officials noted. Forty-six boats are available for deployment on the river when conditions permit, and air boats are being used to help ferry workers to and from the shore to various cleanup sites where conventional motorboats cannot be used.
The EPA is leading the Unified Command Center cleanup activities and conducting ongoing air and water quality monitoring. Ongoing air quality monitoring has confirmed there is no danger to public health.
Municipal water systems continue to be monitored by the EPA, though no reports of impacts have been received to date.
Pipeline replacement
ExxonMobil said it is working to ensure it meets the requirements of US Department of Transportation’s Corrective Action Order before resuming pipeline operations in Billings.
In order to lessen the impact of the pipeline shutdown on the local economy, ExxonMobil said it has begun preliminary work for the replacement of the pipeline.
This work includes discussions on permitting requirements, rights of ways, drilling equipment, contracting and pipeline fabrication and transportation.
Community outreach and claims update
ExxonMobil employees are visiting residents in the most impacted areas of the spill to ensure residents’ needs are being met, the company said, and to date have visited more than 150 residents.
The company said its goal is to answer any questions residents may have about the claims process or spill and cleanup activities.
Overall, ExxonMobil said it received more than 300 calls from the community. More than 120 claims were related to property, agriculture or health, and these claims are being resolved as quickly as possible, the company said.
Meanwhile, more than 130 calls have been from people offering volunteer assistance.
To address individual health concerns, teams of trained environmental specialists are conducting air and water quality testing.
Wildlife assessment and recovery
ExxonMobil also continues to work with International Bird Rescue, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to survey the area for impacts to wildlife, it said.
Members of the team are also surveying the affected areas of the river for oiled wildlife, as well as inspecting the property of landowners who have called the community or wildlife hotlines regarding impacted wildlife on their property.
The total number of treated wildlife is four: a garter snake and a western toad (which were treated and released), a Woodhouse’s toad (which will be released Wednesday) and a warbler (which is being cleaned).
In addition, several oiled birds were observed and ExxonMobil is assessing if any require capture or cleaning.
On Wednesday, two boats are scheduled to go out onto the slack, or shallow, water to continue to search for any additional wildlife that may have been affected by the incident.
Aerial helicopter surveys are conducted daily to observe wildlife conditions.
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