900 gallons of oil spill into Missouri River in ND

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — Floodwaters shifted a storage tank and caused at least 900 gallons of oil to spill into the Missouri River in northwestern North Dakota. The owner of the well site says he's committed to cleaning up the mess and a state Health Department official says the damage does not appear to be significant.

The tank is at a well site owned by Ryan Exploration Inc. The site is among about 40 on the flood plain southwest of Williston that were shut down under state orders when the river started to rise in May. Some companies emptied storage tanks of oil and refilled them with water to hold them down in the high water. Tim Ryan of Denver, owner of the site where the tank leaked, told The Bismarck Tribune that it might not have been emptied because the water rose too fast.

"Clearly, I should have been more prepared, but it didn't occur to me that the water would go over our 10-foot-dike," Ryan said. "When I heard this, I felt terrible. I don't think I slept an hour (Wednesday) night."

Kris Roberts, a state Health Department environmental geologist, said another company discovered the spill Wednesday and immediately started efforts to contain the oil and clean it up. Ryan Exploration crews also have been working at the site.

"We dodged a bullet," Roberts said. "I didn't see anything big enough to give me heartburn."

He added that the situation can't be fully investigated until the floodwaters recede. The tank held 68 barrels of oil and at least 20 barrels are believed to have leaked. A barrel holds 42 gallons.

The North Dakota spill is much smaller than an estimated 42,000-gallon spill from a ruptured pipeline two weeks ago into the Yellowstone River in Montana.

Ryan estimated the cleanup cost at his well site at $500,000.

"We saw a couple of questionable spots, but my nightmare was that we would see one big slick," he said.

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