Chevron cited for oil spill in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah regulators have cited Chevron Corp. for a pipeline leak that spilled crude oil into a Salt Lake City creek.

The June 12 spill sent an estimated 33,000 gallons of oil into Red Butte Creek. Much of the crude oil pooled into a pond at the city’s Liberty Park, and regulators say oil traveled downstream into the Jordan River.

The Utah Water Quality Board issued citations to Chevron on Tuesday for unauthorized release of a pollutant, releasing an “offensive” waste and violating water quality standards. Regulators say they will decide on fines later.

A Chevron spokesman didn’t immediately return a message today seeking comment.

The San Ramon, Calif., company has said it believes the leak was caused by a short in a power line that traveled through a utility fence post to melt a hole in the pipe’s casing.