Exxon offers training, equipment after Mont. spill

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Exxon Mobil Corp. is proposing to pay for emergency response training and equipment for future oil spills as part of its settlement over a major crude release into the Yellowstone River.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is hosting a public meeting in Billings Thursday to take comments on the company's proposal.

Exxon faced a $1.6 million penalty for water pollution violations stemming from a pipeline break near Laurel last July that dumped more than 1,500 barrels of oil into the river. The company paid $300,000 in cash and is paying off the remainder through providing several environmental projects.

Others proposals from the company include the purchase of infrared cameras for gas leak detection, improvements to a fish bypass around a dam in Huntley and a contribution toward clean diesel school buses.