400 Barrels Of Oil Spill In Utah After Governor Calls For More Production

Fifty gallons of crude oil leaked per minute into a Salt Lake City creek, adding up to 400-500 barrels before crews could stop it (h/t Think Progress).

Chevron determined the pipeline broke at 10 p.m. Friday, and police and fire crews were notified of it shortly before 7 am. Saturday.

Officials were unsure of the cause of the leak, near the University of Utah campus, or the extent of the spill’s environmental impact. Mayor Ralph Becker said drinking water for residents was not affected.

The underground pipeline that goes from Utah to Colorado, left birds and ducks covered in oil

About 150 birds have been identified for rehabilitation, said Jane Larson, Hogle’s animal care supervisor. About 75 percent are Canada geese.

“A lot of them are just coated from about the water line, but there are a number of birds that started preening and have oil completely covering their bodies,” said Tom Aldridge, migratory bird coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Services.

Just days earlier, Utah Governor Gary Herbert put out an energy plan that reads in part:

“Why are we drilling in the middle of the ocean where there is extreme environmental risk when we could be meeting the demand for domestic production from on‐shore development in areas with minimal environmental risk such as Utah?”

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.