EPA Gauges Damage of Exxon Oil Spill In Yellowstone River

Teams of federal and state workers are fanning out along Montana's Yellowstone River to gauge the environmental damage from a ruptured ExxonMobil pipeline that spewed tens of thousands of gallons of crude into the famous waterway.

An Environmental Protection Agency representative said Sunday that only a small fraction of the spilled oil is likely to be recovered.

Agency on-scene coordinator Steve Way says fast flows along the flooding river are spreading the oil over a large area, making it harder to capture.

But Way says that also could reduce damage to wildlife and cropland along the river.

An estimated 1,000 barrels, or roughly 42,000 gallons, spilled Saturday before the flow of oil from the damaged pipeline was stopped.

Associated Press