50,000 Gallons Of Oil Spills Into Yellowstone River, Tap Water Unsafe T Drink

An oil pipeline in Montana has burst, spilling more than 50,000 gallons of oil directly into the Yellowstone River, which prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency. In nearby cities, residents were told not to drink the tap water. Some locals said the water smelled like diesel.

The oil spill happened when a 12 inch pipeline ruptured about 5 miles up from the city of Glendive, says Montana’s Department of Environmental quality. The Bridger Pipeline company shut down the pipeline, but not before dumping as much as 50,400 gallons of oil into the river.

Glendive City Council member Gerald Reichert was among the residents who noted the terrible odor coming from the tap water.