Some Homes Near Montana Oil Spill Report Dark Ooze Coming Out Of Taps

"Residents of a Montana town whose water supply was tainted by an oil pipeline rupture last week got the all-clear on Friday to turn taps back on, though some reported brown or black material spurting from faucets even after their pipes were flushed.

Drinking supplies for some 6,000 people in and around the community of Glendive became contaminated last Saturday when an estimated 1,200 barrels of crude oil was spilled into the Yellowstone River from a pipeline breach several miles upstream from the northeastern Montana town.

Initial testing of Glendive's water, which is drawn from the river, showed levels of benzene, a cancer-causing constituent of petroleum, well above levels considered safe for human health by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."

Laura Zuckerman reports for Reuters January 23, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Feds Issued Warning To Pipeline Company in November" (EnergyWire)

"Exxon Given $1 Million Penalty After 2011 Yellowstone River Oil Spill" (AP)

"50-Foot Section of Failed Montana Oil Pipeline Was Exposed on Bed of Yellowstone River Near Site of Spill" (Summit County Citizens Voice)