Health Department explains oil spill response procedures

October 16, 2013

When Tesoro notified state and federal officials of an oil pipeline leak late on Sunday, Sept. 29, the North Dakota Department of Health and other state agencies immediately began a coordinated emergency notification and response process that continues today.

The emergency manager in the county in which the spill was reported was quickly notified on Sept. 30, and the Health Department mobilized a response team that had field staff on site within hours. Tesoro reported that they shut down the pipeline as soon as they were notified of the leak. The pipeline is under the regulatory authority of the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services and the state Department of Mineral Resources also were notified the night the leak was reported. Also notified that night was the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Response Center.

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