Rivers carry spilled oil into Oklahoma

COFFEYVILLE, Kan., July 3 (UPI) -- Thousands of gallons of spilled crude oil and sewage were transported by rising rivers and streams from Kansas into Oklahoma during the weekend.

About 42,000 gallons of oil spilled Sunday into the Verdigris River from the Coffeyville Resources refinery on the Kansas-Oklahoma border, The Oklahoman, an Oklahoma City newspaper, reported Monday.

Officials said none of the nine public water supplies along the Verdigris and Lake Oologah are in immediate danger, since most systems draw water from deep in the source and the majority of oil appears to be floating to the surface.

"We are hopeful that because of the large amounts of water that are out there that the oil will be spread out and diluted and displaced and not cause a tremendous problem," Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry said.

As a precaution, Tulsa will stop drawing water from Lake Oologah, a water source located about 30 miles outside the city, the Oklahoman said.

Since the sewage treatment plant in South Coffeyville was also flooded, communities along the Verdigris have been urged to increase testing levels, said Miles Tolbert, Oklahoma's secretary of environment.

Henry said Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius called him on Monday to apologize for the mess and offer her assistance.