EPA Gives Enbridge (NYSE:EEP) Monday Noon Ultimatum

Enbridge (NYSE:EEP) workers are pushing hard to meet the Monday noon deadline given by the Environmental Protection Agency for the energy company to stop the flow of oil from the oil pipeline.

The oil pipeline leaking oil in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville.

On Friday, the oil had been leaking from the pipe at a rate of 200 to 600 gallons an hour, according to an EPA spokeswoman.

Enbridge spokesman Terri Larson said, "The leak site itself is contained but oil is continuing to drain out of the pipeline. As that oil drains out crews are cleaning it up."

The shutting down of the pipeline, which transports close to 459,000 barrels of oil a day from Superior, Wisconsin to Griffith, Indiana, has caused the price of oil to shoot up, based on the uncertainty as to when it'll be opened up again.

Enbridge (NYSE:EEP) Ordered to Stop Pipeline Leak by Monday

On Friday the Environmental Protection Agency ordered Enbridge Energy Partners (NYSE:EEP) to stop the oil leak from the line located outside Chicago in the suburb of Romeoville.

According to EPA spokeswoman Anne Rowan, the pipeline is leaking from 200 to 600 gallons of crude an hour.

Terrance McGill, President of the Partnership said, "Crews worked through the night to contain the oil. As a result of their efforts, the site has now been isolated and the oil contained. No new oil is reaching the roadway, the nearby ditch or the retention pond. Enbridge expects to begin excavating the pipeline leak site today or early tomorrow."

Enbridge spokeswoman Terri Larson added, "The leak site itself is contained but oil is continuing to drain out of the pipeline. As that oil drains out crews are cleaning it up."

The EPA gave them till noon on Monday to stop the oil from draining from the pipeline.