North Dakota oilfield’s permit revoked for illegal dumping

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Industrial Commission has revoked an oilfield facility’s permit for illegally dumping waste.

The Bismarck Tribune (http://bit.ly/2r25dxM ) reports that the commission voted Monday to revoke Apollo Resources’ permit and ordered the site be cleaned by October.

Commission records show that a state inspector observed a facility employee intentionally pumping drilling mud and wastewater onto a rancher’s pasture in October in McKenzie County, south of Williston.

Milt Madison owns the land next to the plant and says about 10 to 20 acres of his pasture have been contaminated.

A spill report estimates the contamination at more than 3,300 gallons (nearly 12,500 litres).

Apollo says the employee responsible for the contamination has since been fired and the facility “stands ready to continue its efforts to clean up the site.”

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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com