BISMARCK, North Dakota: Federal officials have ordered the company running the Keystone Pipeline to take several safety steps after a major oil spill in North Dakota. About 147,000 gallons of oil leaked onto farmland near Fort Ransom. The company, South Bow, says it hopes to restart the pipeline and resume oil deliveries.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) said South Bow must send the damaged part of the pipeline to an outside lab for testing. The company also needs to find out what caused the break and review 10 years of inspection records to check for any other issues.
PHMSA officials are working at the spill site in North Dakota and in South Bow's control room in Calgary to help find the cause of the accident. The agency said the company has agreed in writing to make all needed repairs.
The federal order also requires a review of the pipeline's special permit, which lets it run at higher-than-normal pressure. They will check if that permit needs to be changed for safety.
South Bow is still investigating what caused the leak. So far, workers have cleaned up thousands of gallons of oil. The pipeline can't start running again until federal officials give approval.
The company said crews are preparing to fix and replace the damaged section of pipe. Cleanup work with vacuum trucks and other equipment will continue through the weekend.
South Bow also said it will lower the pressure in the parts of the pipeline that run through Canada, as agreed with Canadian regulators.
The Keystone Pipeline runs 2,689 miles (4,327 kilometers) from Alberta, Canada, to oil refineries in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas. The spill has raised concerns about how a longer shutdown could affect fuel prices.
"Our top priority is the safety of workers and protecting the environment," South Bow said. "We are committed to the Fort Ransom community and will keep cleaning until the area is fully restored."
