Pipeline spill near Mandaree
By Jerry W. Kram
A pipeline about seven miles north of Mandaree has been leaking oilfield brine near Bears Den Bay of Lake Sakakawea.
According the North Dakota Department of Health, the saltwater pipeline is owned by Crestwood Midstream Services. The Department was notified of the leak about 11:30, Tuesday, July 8. As of Wednesday, Kris Roberts with the North Dakota Department of Health said the company had not filed an environmental incident report, so there was no estimate of how much saltwater was released in the incident. As of Tuesday evening, the spill was reported to be only partially contained.
Roberts said an incident commander from the Environmental Protection Agency arrived on the scene Wednesday.
West Segment Council Representative Randy Phelan released a statement Tuesday night on the West Segment Facebook Page stating that he was notified of the spill about 2 p.m. He did a personal assessment of the area along officials of the Fort Berthold Rural Water, Environmental Protection Agency, MHA Energy, Natural Resources, Homeland Security, Fish and Game, County and State Officials along with the Crestwood Midstream Services.
"My initial and biggest concern was our drinking water, which I was assured by the (rural water) director is safe and unaffected," Phelan wrote. "I conducted a personal spill assessment on location along with our (Rural Water) Director,. My personal assessment of the spill included a lake inspection by boat and as many community members witnessed earlier, an aerial inspection by helicopter. We attempted to walk the affected area by foot but the terrain was too rough to walk. My boat assessment concluded that the spill did not reach the lake."
Phelan added that although he felt the communities water supply was unaffected his office would supply bottled water at the West Segment Tribal office to any tribal member who requested it.
