Montana Voluntary Evacuation Zone

The Keystone Voluntary Evacuation Zone is based on the health department response to a diluted bitumen spill in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River. In that incident, residents along a 40-mile stretch of river were voluntarily evacuated up to one mile away from the river. Fumes could be smelled over 30 miles away.

Drawn from the Keystone Mapping Project Google Earth view, these images form the basis for Thomas Bachand’s VEZ Grid Abstracts series, an exploration of both our perception of, and impact upon, the landscape — seen and unseen. Combining satellite imagery with custom mapping features, the panels examine the interplay of physical and human geography. In series, the photography reveals broader patterns and larger questions.

Images are ordered north to south. Click on any image to enlarge.

Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 19, Montana. Canadian Border.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 42, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 86, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 94, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 156, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Circle, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 184, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Fallon, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 227, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 233, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 238, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Baker, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 261, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 265, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Milepost 269, Montana.Two-mile wide Voluntary Evacuation Zone.  Montana - North Dakota - South Dakota Border.

To view and order prints of this series, visit:

To explore the Keystone Voluntary Evacuation Zone further use KMP Google Earth add-on view:

Additional KMP Google Earth views are available here.

Images and KML files are for personal use only. Distribution and posting to the Internet is not permitted without written permission. All site contents ©Thomas Bachand 2012.

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