Cleanup Completed for Massive 2022 Keystone Pipeline Oil Spill in Kansas: EPA Confirms

Cleanup involved the recovery of nearly 13,000 barrels of oil spilled due to a faulty weld and subsequent aftercare will continue for five years, marking the largest onshore spill in nearly a decade.

The Keystone Pipeline operator, TC Energy, has completed the cleanup operation of a major oil spill that occurred in Kansas in December 2022, with the affected creek now flowing naturally.
The cleanup process involved the recovery of nearly 13,000 barrels of oil, making it the largest onshore spill in almost a decade.
The cause of the spill was identified as a faulty weld in a pipe bend, which cracked and grew over time due to stress caused by pipeline design issues, operational lapses, and problems during construction.
As part of the continued aftercare, both state and federal agencies, including the EPA, the Kansas Department of Health, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will monitor the site for the next five years or until further monitoring is deemed unnecessary.
In addition to the oil recovery, over 54 million gallons of contaminated surface water were treated and discharged back into Mill Creek, and more than 200,000 tons of soil, sediment, and other oil-impacted debris were excavated and sent for disposal.