The problem with a lot of the reporting on oil spills in North Dakota is that it tends to lump all spills of all sizes together into one uniform number. As if all spills were created equal. But that’s just not the case. Most spills are very small. Most spills are entirely contained and have…
Burgum Is Right to Prioritize Good Data in Oil Industry Regulation
State Rep. Roscoe Streyle has introduced legislation to limit reporting of oil spills (it’s HB1151). Currently all spills of any amount are reported. His bill would prohibit the reporting of spills of oil or produced water that are 10 barrels or less and contained on site. Streyle told me in an interview that most of…
North Dakota Oil And Gas Regulators Erred In Not Explaining Reduced Spill Fines Before
North Dakota’s top oil and gas regulators say they’re going to start providing written explanations to the public when they reduce fines for spills. It’s about damn time. In North Dakota the development of oil and gas resources is overseen by the Industrial Commission which is staffed by three of the state’s top elected officials.…