North Dakota pipeline leak spills into Missouri River tributary

BISMARCK, N.D. — Cleanup is underway after 21,000 gallons of brine oilfield wastewater leaked from an underground pipeline in western North Dakota and into an unnamed tributary of the Missouri River, the state Health Department said Monday.

State environmental scientist Bill Suess said the pipeline operator, Polar Midstream LLC, on Sunday reported the spill of produced water, a byproduct of oil production that contains saltwater and oil, and sometimes chemicals from hydraulic fracturing operations.

The spill occurred about 20 miles east of Williston and about a mile from Lake Sakakawea, the largest reservoir on the Missouri River.

Suess said Monday it did not appear the spill reached the lake.

Read more: https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/north-dakota-pipeline-leak-spills-into-missouri-river-tributary/article_07c9407d-a1b9-560c-9004-639c3cf1ca5d.html