Carcinogen Benzene Found in Water Supply in Montana Town Following Weekend Oil Spill
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Tomjac80/iStock/Thinkstock(GLENDIVE, Montana) — After a Saturday oil spill, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality said Tuesday that elevated levels of the carcinogen benzene were found near the town of Glendive in the Yellowstone River.
A breach in the Poplar Pipeline occurred at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, leading to the release of between 200 and 1,200 barrels of Bakken crude oil. Testing of the water in Glendive, which is largely drawn from a structure below the Yellowstone River, showed high levels of volatile organic compounds, including benzene.
Residents of the area have been told not to use the water for “culinary purposes.” The MDEQ says that no other communities draw their water supply from the Yellowstone River in Montana.
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