October 17,2013
Four new spills were discovered Friday, including 2,400 gallons of oil from a toppled storage tank and almost 900 gallons from an unspecified source. Oil spilled from two other damaged tanks but authorities did not know how much.
That brings the known volume of oil released since massive flooding began last week along Colorado's Front Range to an estimated 22,060 gallons or about 525 barrels.
Most of the oil releases reported to date came from tanks operated by Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum Co. At least four of the releases reported by the company were in Weld County and spilled oil into the South Platte River or a tributary, according to information submitted to regulators.
Other companies might have suffered similar problems since flooding began last week, but they have not yet been able to assess their damage.
An aerial survey of the flood area on Thursday revealed up to two dozen overturned oil storage tanks, state regulators said. Releases from those tanks could not be immediately confirmed.
With many roads in the area washed out, the sites remained largely inaccessible, preventing cleanup work from getting underway, said Anadarko spokesman John Christiansen.
"We've got a couple of amphibious vehicles and flat-bottom boats that we're using, but really until things have a chance to dry out and some of the infrastructure issues are sorted out, it's going to be difficult," Christiansen said.
Authorities in Weld County have said their concern over spilled oil is eclipsed by much greater volumes of sewage and other contaminants washing into local waterways.
MORE: Devastating Colorado Floods
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue workers, Doug
Westhoff, left, and Randy Sanders, right, walk next to part of a
collapsed portion of Namaqua Rd. in Loveland, Colo., on Wednesday, Sept.
18, 2013. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider)
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