Montana ranchers Hit by Oil Spill

Crude oil isn't just ruining animals and plants, it's beginning to dry out livelihoods of people along the Yellowstone River. “I really need to get water on my crops,” said rancher Jerry Williams. Williams owns about 850 acres along River Road, which is off of Duck Creek Road. The oil was washed up by the flood water, and now it is stuck to all his crops. “Were unable to water right now because of the oil in the water and we had oil in our pumps,” said Williams. Williams said first it was the flood waters, now this. “The flood you can deal with, because it comes up and then comes down pretty quickly and it doesn't affect the ground around you, but with the oil it changes everything,” said Williams. Williams has had to move his livestock to a fenced early to keep them from eating the oil, but that's not the only concern, “were concerned about our water wells,” he said. Along Thiel Road, clean up crews are doing what they can to start with relief efforts. Dan Kennedy is a state house representative for House District 57. He lives along Thiel Road and has had oil wash up along his property too. Kennedy is optimistic that Exxon Mobil will do all they can to help his constituents. “I put my animals up, I know the horses wont eat down too far, but were going to let the water go down, and let the professionals come in." Exxon Mobil said air and water monitoring has not revealed any health risks, as of now, but at least one person has had to go to the emergency room...more