A 12 inch Exxon pipeline ruptured under the Yellowstone River downstream from the national park, covering the flooding river with long slicks of oil.
ExxonMobil spokeswoman Pam Malek told AP news agency an estimated 750 to 1,000 barrels of oil had leaked from the pipe for about a half-hour before it was shut down.
This won't be good for the fishing or the drinking water. The extent of the damage has not yet been fully assessed and Exxon's estimates of the size of the spill have not been confirmed by independent experts.
I have no idea why Exxon was allowed to put the pipeline under the Yellowstone River and no idea why it wasn't properly inspected and monitored to prevent this accident. What is clear is that BP Exxon and the Koch Industries cannot be trusted to protect the environment, workers or people. We need tougher regulation, stronger government and bigger fines for polluters, not weak kneed corporate Democrat and Republican policies that coddle big oil companies at our expense.