The operator of a crude oil pipeline that ruptured last week in a rural part of Washington County says it has reopened all of the pipeline except for the stretch in Kansas and northern Oklahoma that includes the spill site.
Canada-based T.C. Energy said in a statement Wednesday night that its Keystone system has restarted operations from Canada to southern Nebraska and from there to south-central Illinois. It also is operating the pipeline from northern Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast. The Dec. 7 spill forced the company to shut down operations and dumped about 14,000 barrels of heavy crude into nearby Mill Creek in Washington County, about an hour north of Manhattan.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued an update on cleanup efforts Thursday morning, noting more than 400 personnel remained on site, from various state, federal and local agencies. Response crews have recovered nearly 234,000 gallons (or about 5,600 barrels) of oil-water mixture from Mill Creek, in addition to 5,000 cubic yards of oil-contaminated soil and nine cubic yards of oily solids.
The EPA says so far four deceased mammals have been recovered, along with 71 fish. Wildlife assessment crews are continuing their assessment observations of impacted wildlife. All deceased and impacted wildlife are being assessed by biologists with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
