Keystone pipeline reopens in North Dakota

Two weeks after a leak in the Keystone pipeline in North Dakota spilled an estimated 383,000 gallons of oil onto farm land, the pipeline has been repaired and reopened.

TC Energy, formerly known as TransCanada announced the pipeline “returned to service” on Sunday after repairs were made and approval came from the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

The cause of the Oct. 29 leak is still under investigation after it affected about 22,500 square feet of farmland near Edinburg in the northeast part of the state.

“We will operate the pipeline at a reduced pressure with a gradual increase in the volume of crude oil moving through the system,” the company’s statement said.

The pipeline is designed to carry about 23 million gallons (87 million liters) daily.

The agency ordered the company last week to keep the pipeline shut down until corrective action was taken, including sending an affected portion of the pipe to an independent laboratory for testing.

North Dakota environmental scientist Bill Suess said Monday that an affected portion of the 30-inch (76-centimeter) underground steel pipeline was dug up and replaced “over the weekend.”

TC Energy has said about 200 people were at the site working around the clock to clean up the spill. The company said about 285,600 gallons (1 million liters) of crude oil has been recovered.

Source:  Associated Press.