An oil spill into a south central Kansas river drew the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency which ordered an oil company to clean up the spill.
KSN TV in Wichita reported the EPA issued the order to Atlas Operating LLC following the oil spill in the Chikaskia River. It was February 15 when the spill occurred at some oil tanks south of the town of Spivey in Kingman County. Spivey is located just across the state line and northeast of Alva, Oklahoma.
The investigation by the EPA found 33,600 gallons of brine water and crude oil leaked into an unnamed tributary and eventually into the Chikaskia River. Reports indicated the brine and oil were discovered at least 12 miles downstream from the tanks.
The EPA set a March 13 deadline for Atlas Operating to stop the flow of oil into the stream and river, remove the oil and contaminated soil, recovery of the oil-impacted debris from the shorelines of the river and to dispose of the waste.