Major North Dakota Oil Spill Made Public a Whole 11 Days After First Detected

[kgrandia]

Via Grist: http://grist.org/article/how-long-did-the-north-dakota-oil-spill-remain-undetected/

20,600 barrels of crude oil spilled from a six inch pipeline owned and operated by Tesoro Logistics, according to the company, spreading over 7 acres of a North Dakota wheat field until a farmer discovered it on September 29. But information about this major spill wasn’t made public for another 11 days – and only after the Associated Press asked the North Dakota Health Department about it. The oil spill is raising questions about the company’s leak detection and response efforts, as well as the adequacy of oversight from state and federal regulators amid North Dakota’s oil boom. The state recently passed Alaska as the number two oil producing state, as oil companies exploit the Bakken oil shale field using controversial fracking processes.

[hatrack]

1. But Tesoro says there were "no known impacts" to the environment, water or wildlife

In fact, "Protection and care of the environment are fundamental to our core values, and we deeply regret any impact to the landowner," said Tesoro Logistics Chairman and CEO Greg Goff. "We will continue to work tirelessly to fully remediate the release area."

So there - don't you worry your pretty little head about that lil' old oil spill.

Message - they care.