Kansas oil, sewage flow south
Kansas oil, sewage floats south

From Staff Reports
Published: July 3, 2007

Rain-swollen rivers and streams carried an estimated 42,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from a Coffeyville, Kan., refinery, as well as sewage, into Oklahoma on Monday.

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The oil is headed for Lake Oologah, a Tulsa water source, but Oklahoma officials hope it dissipates on the way.

The oil spilled into the Verdigris River from the Coffeyville Resources refinery on Sunday. Coffeyville is on the Oklahoma-Kansas state line.

"There are nine public water supplies along the Verdigris and Lake Oologah, and none of them are currently affected,” said Skylar McElhaney, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Quality.

McElhaney said most of the water systems draw water from deep in the lake and most of the oil appears to be floating at the surface. During aerial surveys Sunday and Monday, it appeared the oil had reached a causeway but has not entered the main body of the lake.

McElhaney said officials were optimistic the spill will dissipate before it reached Lake Oologah.

However, residents along the river should be aware that the sewage treatment plant in South Coffeyville was flooded, which will cause a danger of bacteria in the river, said Miles Tolbert, Oklahoma's secretary of environment. Communities along the river are being encouraged to increase testing levels.

The oil will end up in Lake Oologah, about 30 miles northeast of Tulsa, Tolbert said. The city of Tulsa plans to stop drawing water from the lake, he said.

"We are hopeful that because of the large amounts of water that are out there that the oil will be spread out and diluted and displaced and not cause a tremendous problem,” Gov. Brad Henry said.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius called Henry on Monday to apologize.

"She's very concerned and offered her help and assistance,” Henry said.


 


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