NATCHEZ &045;&045; Late Monday night, state Department of Environmental Quality Emergency Services responded to an oil spill that happened when a pine tree that fell and ruptured a pipeline across Sandy Creek in the Kington area of Adams County.

Cleanup efforts are now being coordinated with MDEQ, state and federal agencies and All American Pipeline, L.P., the pipeline owner. They have responded to the spill and contained further movement of the oil. &uot;We have contained the spill on Sandy Creek and at Highway 61 on the Homochitto River,&uot; Eric Dear, head of MDEQ’s Emergency Services said in a statement.

&uot;We have worked continuously since we received the call, to lessen the environmental impact on the wildlife in the Homochitto Game Management Area.&uot;

Biologists from agencies that responded to the cleanup effort are taking water samples from Sandy Creek and the Homochitto River to assess the impact on wildlife. The Gulf Coast Wildlife Rehabilitation Network is assisting with the assessment, mobilized by the pipeline company.

MDEQ estimated 350 barrels or 14,700 gallons of crude oil were released into the creek and eventually flowed into the Homochitto River. MDEQ said cleanup would continue until all of the crude oil has been removed.

&uot;Further investigation will determine whether enforcement action is warranted in this case,&uot; Phil Bass, director of MDEQ office of pollution control, said in a prepared statement.

Jim Conrad, a professional naturalist, is living in the forest on property adjacent to where the spill occurred, near Liberty Road and Sandy Creek. Conrad said he had seen numerous people in the area the past few days, all of them trying to get into the forest, though where the spill was is deep inside the forest. &uot;I saw that the stream was polluted with oil,&uot; Conrad said, expressing concern for the fish in the river and wildlife that use it. &uot;A lot of people are involved and making a major effort, but, of course, the damage is already done.&uot;