This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Property owners along or near Red Butte Creek have settled a lawsuit with Chevron Pipeline Co. and Rocky Mountain Power over two 2010 spills that poured tens of thousands of gallons of oil into the waterway that runs through Salt Lake City.
The property owners alleged in the 2012 federal court lawsuit that despite Chevron's cleanup, remnants of oil linger, causing health problems and a drop in property values, and that the company failed to fix the problems that caused the spill.
Paul Durham, an attorney for the owners, said Friday that terms of the settlement were confidential but added, "The property owners are happy with the resolution of this case."
An electrical surge apparently caused the first spill in June 2010, which unleashed 33,600 gallons of crude as it leaked overnight, scarring Red Butte Creek and property in the neighborhoods it runs through, the Liberty Park pond and parts of the Jordan River.
Crews repaired the pipeline and reopened it barely more than a week later, but it broke again in December 2010, spewing another 21,000 gallons near Red Butte Garden's amphitheater. The pipeline reopened Feb. 1, 2011, with safety upgrades.
The settlement of the homeowners' lawsuit did not include the claims that Chevron has filed against Rocky Mountain Power and the electrical utilities' claims against the oil pipeline company.