Yellowstone River oil spill
Clean up crews work to collect oil from along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Mont. An ExxonMobil pipeline near Laurel ruptured and spilled an estimated 1,000 barrels of crude into the Yellowstone.
Section:Picture story
Robert Castleberry walks through oil and mud near his flooded and oil contaminated home along side the Yellowstone River near Laurel, Mont. , Tuesday, July 5, 2011. The Yellowstone River swelled above flood levels Tuesday, raising fears that the surge will push thousands of gallons of oil spilled from a broken pipeline into undamaged areas and prolong cleanup efforts as crude seeps downstream and into back channels.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
Exxon Mobil Corp. acknowledged under political pressure Monday that the scope of its oil pipeline leak into the Yellowstone River could extend far beyond a 10-mile stretch of the famed waterway.
Associated Press
Oil covers a pond along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Mont., Tuesday, July 5, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
Oil sticks to the grass near the home Robert Castleberry along side the Yellowstone River near Laurel, Montana, Tuesday July 5, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
Robert Castleberry touches on oil near his flooded and oil contaminated home along side the Yellowstone River near Laurel, Mont., Tuesday July 5, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
As the company intensified its cleanup of tens of thousands of gallons of spilled crude, Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co. President Gary Pruessing pledged to do "whatever is necessary" to find and mop up oil from the 12-inch pipeline that broke at the bottom of the river over the weekend.
Associated Press
Oil cleanup crew workers put on protective clothing before working along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Mont., Wednesday July 6, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
Cleanup workers use oil absorbent materials along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Mont., Wednesday July 6, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
"I need to know what we've been exposed to," said Mike Scott, whose partner, Alexis Bonogofsky, was diagnosed Monday with acute hydrocarbon exposure after she experienced dizziness, nausea and trouble breathing.
Associated Press
A cleanup worker wipes oil off his waders along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Mont., Wednesday July 6, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
Oil absorbent material along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Mont., Wednesday July 6, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
Cleanup crews work to clear oil from along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Mont., Tuesday July 5, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
Exxon Mobil has estimated that up to 42,000 gallons of crude oil spilled Friday night before the flow from the damaged pipe was stopped. The break near Laurel has fouled miles of riverbank. The spill has amplified calls from some safety advocates and environmentalists who want the government to impose more stringent regulations on the industry.
Associated Press
Cleanup workers use oil absorbent materials along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Montana, Wednesday July 6, 2011.
Jim Urquhart Associated Press
"These are the sort of spills that we shouldn't be tolerating," Anthony Swift, a policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said. "We need to incorporate tougher safety standards."
Associated Press
Oil absorbent material along side the Yellowstone River in Laurel, Montana, Wednesday, July 6, 2011.
Jim Urquhart A
The cause of the Montana spill has not yet been determined. Company and government officials have speculated that high waters in recent weeks may have scoured the river bottom and exposed the pipeline to debris that could have damaged the pipe.
Associated Press
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