Beaver dam partly contains Canada oil spill

An oil spill near the native village of Little Buffalo in Canada's Alberta province was partly contained by a beaver dam, a provincial environment official said Wednesday.

Oil began leaking April 29 from a pipeline belonging to Plains Midstream Canada in northern Alberta about seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the village, said Alberta Environment. In the end, it spilled 28,000 barrels.

The oil almost sullied a river but was contained by some small bodies of standing water and a beaver dam, officials said.

"It's true that there is a beaver dam in the area and that it initially contained the spill," provincial Environment chief Rob Renner told reporters by phone.

"The break point of the pipeline has been isolated and there is no further flow of crude oil," he noted.

(c) 2011 AFP