Yellowstone River Cleanup And Recovery Update

ExxonMobil Pipeline Company said Unified Command cleanup operations continued Thursday following a release of oil into the Yellowstone River on July 1.

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,” the company said

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, the company said, adding that the EPA is also monitoring water quality