GLENDIVE, Mont., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- With residents clearing their drinking water lines, authorities responding to a Montana oil spill revised the estimated volume of the release to 925 barrels.
The Poplar pipeline, operated by Bridger Pipeline, spilled oil into the Yellowstone River last weekend. A Twitter account set up by a unified command responding to the spill said oil recovery continues, with the estimated volume reduced from 1,200 to 925 barrels.
Recovered an additional 34 barrels of oil from the Poplar Pipeline. Total potential spill reduced to ~925 barrels or ~39k gallons. #glendive
— Poplar Response (@poplarresponse) January 23, 2015The all-clear was given for the region's water treatment plant and residents impacted by the spill were directed to flush their drinking water lines to ensure any contaminants were released. A consumption advisory remains in place as officials warn contaminants may linger in fish for as long as 40 days.
Neither Bridger nor state officials have indicated what caused the release. River scour was in part behind a 2011 release of 1,200 barrels of oil into the Yellowstone River from the Silvertip pipeline, operated by Exxon Mobil.
