 |
| flushing Glendvie water; Casper Star-Tribune |
More: Bridger Petroleum, the operator of the leaking pipeline polluting the Yellowstone River in Montana has a history of leaks as does its sister company Belle Fouche Pipeline. Bridger spilled oil in nine incidents between 2006 and 2014 totalling 11,000 galons of crude. Belle Fouche's record was worse with 21 incidents spilling 272,832 gallons. Both companies are owned by the True Family (
no joke). Despite their poor performance, regulators have not fined either company in any of the seventeen regulatory inspections since 2009, a pathetic performance in itself. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed fining Bridger $70,000 for poor regulatory compliance. After disputing the proposed fine, it was reduced to $45,000. Bridger's accident rate is double the industry average. Belle Fouche was fined $131,900 in 2012 for failing to inspect its pipeline system covering 551 miles in Montana, North Dakato and Wyoming. In May 2014 a corroded line caused 25,000 galllons to leak onto public land administered by the BLM. Because the leak was beyond its jurisidiction the pipeline safety administration took no action. The BLM also did not impose a penalty.
{20.01.15}Another pipeline carrying Bakken shale oil has broken, dumping 50,000 gallons or more into the Yellowstone River near Glendive, Montana on Saturday. Cold and ice on the river are hampering clean up efforts.
Drinking water drawn from the river is contaminated. The Poplar Pipeline that runs along the bottom of the river remained closed on Monday. The river suffered a major spill in July, 2011 when an Exxon-owned pipeline breached near Laurel spilling at least 63,000 gallons of oil. Officials are still seeking up to $3.4 million in fines from Exxon. The extent of the current spill is being evaluated.
