Drilling waste soars with North Dakota oil output

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The state Health Department says waste from drilling activity in western North Dakota has grown exponentially with the output of oil, and more special landfills are proposed to keep pace.

Data obtained by The Associated Press show the amount of so-called oilfield special waste has increased nearly 5,100 percent in the past decade, to more than 512,000 tons last year.

Only five facilities in North Dakota are permitted to accept the oilfield waste

State Waste Management Director Scott Radig says existing oil waste disposal sites are nearing capacity and more than a dozen similar facilities have been mulled by private firms.

Regulators expect about three new oil waste projects to be considered over the next several months.

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