Oil company responsible for Highland spill offers compensation as cleanup continues

The company whose pipeline has leaked more than 4,200 gallons of crude oil into streams near Highland has apologized for the inconvenience and is accepting claims by anyone who believes they have been affected by it.

Plains All-American Pipeline “sincerely regrets this incident has occurred” and apologized in a statement issued Sunday night for the inconvenience and impact to the environment. The statement indicated that 2,700 booms have been deployed to prevent oil from spreading any further from the pipeline break on Little Silver Creek, as well as nine vacuum trucks, 17 response vessels, an observation helicopter and more than 120 workers.

The response team is monitoring the containment booms, which are located along the creek and in the northern portion of Silver Lake as well as around the inlet for the water treatment facility, which provides drinking water to Highland and other towns in the vicinity. For the time being, Silver Lake is closed for recreational purposes. The creek feeds into the lake, and winds past homes and farmland.

The company has set up a website at www.mp29response.com to provide updates and information, as well as accepting claims from people who believe they have been affected and wish to be compensated. People who have been affected are asked to call a toll-free number, 888-557-5216, to file a claim. Plains is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to contain the spill, according to the statement.

Spokesmen for state and federal EPA could not be reached for comment Monday.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said his staff is in contact with Highland Mayor Joe Michaelis and the emergency management agencies regarding the spill.

“I’m concerned about the proximity of the oil to Highland’s drinking water source,” Durbin said. “I will continue to monitor the situation and make sure that every necessary federal resource is made available to Highland.”

The spill was caused by a blown fitting on a 20-inch pipe that carried crude oil through the region. A resident saw oil being released from the Pocahontas pump station at about 7:45 a.m. Friday. The pipeline was shut down shortly thereafter.

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 8:27 AM with the headline "Oil company responsible for Highland spill offers compensation as cleanup continues."