Utah Has Its Own Mini Version Of The Gulf Coast Oil Disaster

The Gulf oil spill disaster that started on April 20, 2010, and which continues today, has captivated the nation and the world since the first day. The impacts will be discussed, debated and, most likely, litigated for years to come. This tragedy is of a scope that the world community rarely, if ever, sees and we should all be thankful for that. Salt Lake City residents, however, are dealing with some of the same issues, albeit on a on microscopic scale compared to what those on the Gulf Coast are dealing with.

On June 12th, a leak was discovered in a Chevron pipeline that eventually dumped 33,000 gallons of crude oil into Red Butte Creek in the foothills above Salt Lake City. The spill flowed through the University of Utah campus, through the backyards of the Yalecrest neighborhood and into the Liberty Park Pond; Liberty Park is Salt Lake City’s miniature version of New York’s Central Park. Initial investigation results suggest that a lightning strike triggered an electrical arc that burned a dime size hole in the pipeline. The pipeline is pressurized and as a result, 50 gallons a minute were pumped through the tiny hole into the creek until the leak was discovered the morning after it started.

The clean-up efforts started immediately and within a week, the damaged section of the pipeline was replaced, tested, and pumping resumed. Like BP, Chevron has taken full responsibility for the spill, the clean-up, and "all legitimate claims for damages."

Here are the statistics to date:

• 33,600 gallons leaked from pipeline;
• 26,880 gallons recovered so far;
• 2,100 gallons have evaporated;
• 100 damage claims submitted to date;
• $125,000 bill submitted by Salt Lake City for incurred expenses to date; and
• $225,000 bill submitted by Utah Department of Environmental Quality for incurred expenses to date.

Although clean-up efforts continue, some impacted residents still have questions and concerns. About 150 people attended a public forum yesterday with many showing up to offer their criticism clean-up efforts today as well as what they view as too close a relationship between Chevron and the agencies charged with overseeing the spill response. One resident brought oil covered rocks to the meeting along with the criticism that the restoration efforts to date have been focused on surface efforts. In response, Chevron pledged to stick with the clean-up efforts until all damage has been remediated. Let’s hope the company follows through with that commitment.