On June 13, a pipeline was discovered to be leaking oil in the Red Butte Creek area of Utah, USA. The pipeline is connected to Chevron Corporation’s oil refinery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A hole about the size of a U.S. quarter was causing the oil leak. By the time the pipeline hole was discovered, an oil spill of approximately 800 barrels of oil had flowed into the surrounding area. The area includes Red Butte Creek and the Jordan River. The Jordan River winds its way through the Salt Lake Valley and eventually enters the Great Salt Lake. The river’s journey takes it past four of the largest cities in Utah: Salt Lake City, West Valley City, West Jordan, and Sandy.(1)

Chevron issued a statement about the Red Butte Creek Oil Spill on their website. Also see Chevron’s website Red Butte Canyon Oil Spill.

Last Saturday, June 19th, Chevron completed a three-hour water flush of Red Butte Creek. According to Chevron, the surge of water will flush any remaining oil and be caught by strategically placed absorbent oil boom. The oil will then be collected by vacuum trucks. Read the press release. Here is a report of the water flush from ABC4 TV in Salt Lake City:

The city of Salt Lake City has established a Unified Command Center and can be accessed by visiting Red Butte Canyon Oil Spill.