WILLISTON – Cleanup crews have removed nearly 6 million gallons of water from the site of a pipeline rupture north of here, but a large amount of that water is believed to be snowmelt and freshwater from Blacktail Creek.
Meadowlark Midstream, a subsidiary of Summit Midstream, continues to clean up after a pipeline rupture discovered Jan. 6 caused nearly 3 million gallons of saltwater to release near Blacktail Creek, which flows into the Little Muddy River and eventually the Missouri River.
In addition to removing contaminated water and soil, crews are taking samples to define the extent of the impacts below the surface, using absorbent booms and constructing temporary dams to remove contamination, and monitoring surface water and groundwater, the company said in a statement released Tuesday.
A state health official has said the levels of chloride and ammonia at the site of the pipeline rupture were “acutely toxic” to aquatic life, but the extent of the impact to wildlife will likely be undetermined until after the spring thaw.
Testing shows that the levels of chloride have been significantly reduced, Meadowlark said in its statement. For more information, visit http://www.meadowlarkupdate.com .
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