Yellowstone oil spills fuel arguments over Keystone line

BILLINGS, Mont. — Oil pipeline accidents have become increasingly frequent in the U.S. as Congress pushes for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline — a project that would pass near the spot where 30,000 gallons of crude spilled into Montana's Yellowstone River earlier this month.

The recent spill temporarily fouled a city's water supply and became the latest in a string of accidents to highlight ongoing problems with maintenance of the nation's 61,000 miles of crude oil pipelines.

Yet in the politically charged debate over Keystone, its detractors aren't the only ones seizing on the Yellowstone spill. So are lawmakers who support the project.

In a floor speech Wednesday, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., pointed to the Jan. 17 spill in Montana as an example of why new pipelines like Keystone are needed.

Keystone would be different than the half-century-old line that failed near the city of Glendive, Montana Sen. Steve Daines told The Associated Press.

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