Updated at: 12/08/2009 2:00 PM | KSAX.com
By: Megan Matthews
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Family Reacts to Oil Spill Close to Home

STAPLES, MINN. - Workers are removing truckloads of soil from the site where 210,000 gallons of oil spilled Friday, and one couple, who was asked to evacuate the area, says they will stay put right at home until the mess is cleaned up.

"I can't imagine it," Jeanette Etzler said in reaction to the oil leak.

Her and her husband have lived next to the Koch pipeline for about 50 years; she never thought it would leak gallons and gallons of oil.

"I never thought about it being real I guess, or this exciting anyhow," Etzler said.

The Etzler's live about a quarter mile away from the "hot spot," as workers call it.  Soon after the spill Friday, workers asked them to evacuate.

"They wanted us to leave.  They didn't say we had to.  They just asked if we would leave for our own safety," Etzler said.

A couple families did leave their homes, but not the Etzlers.  They stayed put.

"We can't see what's going on, so you don't feel fear, so we stayed home," Etzler said.

She says she can't see or hear the work that's going on next to her home.  Workers are trying to dig up any contaminated soil, which could take all week.  The work doesn't bother Etzler, but she does worry.

"It's just a little exciting, what's going on down there.  I kind of worry, because you wouldn't want anyone to get hurt that close to home," Etzler said.

She's not worried about her or her husband's safety, because this is the first major problem with the pipeline.

"I think they do very well..never have a problem with it," Etzler said.

The oil leak is currently under investigation.

To see original story, click the following link:

Pipeline Dumps Crude Oil in Rural Staples

Written for the web by Megan Matthews

megan@ksax.com