State of Emergency Declared Following Oil Spill in Yellowstone River

Thousands of people in Montana advised not to use tap water as traces of oil were found in the pipeline.

MOSCOW, January 21 (Sputnik) — An estimated 50,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from a pipeline into Montana’s Yellowstone River Saturday, forcing Montana Governor Steve Bullock to announce a state of emergency for Dawson and Richland counties, reports AP.

Barrels of water had to be shipped in to the city of Glendive, after traces of oil were found in the city’s water supplies. Residents in nearby cities were told not to drink the tap water, which some said smelled like diesel.

Glendive City Council member Gerald Reichert said that he didn’t believe the reports of odors coming from residents’ taps until he smelled it in his own home.

“Suddenly at our house there was a definite smell. It was a diesel smell,” Reichert told AP.

Bridger Pipeline is planning to bring water into the city every day until the water system is free of oil.

The officials are waiting for results from water sample testing, and for now advising residents to use bottled water for drinking and cooking.

A number of agencies have responded to the oil spill, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services, reports CNN.

Currently it is difficult to clean up the mess also due to the weather: the Yellowstone River is partially frozen.