A contractor for ExxonMobil tends to an oil containment boom along the Yellowstone River near Laurel, Mont., after a pipeline that runs under the river ruptured Saturday July 2, 2011. The pipeline break was contained early Saturday morning but the spill stretched over dozens of miles. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
Eyewitness NewsLAUREL, Montana -- Mountain snowmelt amid hot summer temperatures are expected to complicate efforts by ExxonMobil to continue the initial cleanup along the oil-fouled Yellowstone River near Billings, Montana. Officials say rising waters could make it harder for Exxon Mobil Corp. to get to areas damaged by the crude spilled from a company pipeline.
The National Weather Service predicts the swelling river will peak at Billings this afternoon.
ExxonMobil Pipeline Co. President Gary Pruessing has promised to do "whatever is necessary" to mop up oil spilled from the duct at the river bottom.The 12-inch pipeline burst Friday upstream from a refinery in Billings.
After downplaying assertions from state and federal officials that damage from the spill was spread over dozens of miles, Exxon Mobil acknowledged under political pressure that the scope of the leak could be greater.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)Get more U.S. & World News »
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