Oil Pipeline Leaks, River in the U.S. Threatened

Hundreds of barrels of crude oil contaminating the Yellowstone River in Montana, United States, after the pipeline company owned by ExxonMobil beneath the river leaked on Saturday, July 2, 2011.

CNN reported that the area around the location of leaks have been sterilized and leaking pipes have been closed. Residents living near the river were evacuated because the air was filled with the smell of oil. However, they are now allowed to return home.

ExxonMobil spokeswoman Pam Malek, said about 750 to 1,000 barrels of crude oil flows from leaky pipes for half an hour before being compressed.

"We realized the seriousness of this incident. We're trying to overcome them. Our main focus is the safety and health of employees and surrounding communities," said Malek.

Not clear that the spread of the spill. However, the head of the local disaster management agency, Duane Winslow, suspect that the spills will rapidly disappear.

"We're just waiting for the movement of the spill, Exxon while thinking about the steps that must be taken to tackle this monster," he said as quoted from the pages of the BBC.

Exxon promised to conduct a full investigation of cases related to the leaking pipe which is attached as thick as 12 inches of Silvertip to Billings, or downstream from the Yellowstone National Park.