BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Legislature has endorsed a bill that relaxes rules for reporting oil field spills.
The Senate approved the bill 31-14 on Monday that no longer requires companies to report spills 10 barrels or less that are contained at a well site. A barrel is 42 gallons.
The House passed the measure in January. Companies are still required to report spills that escape from a well site, and they must clean up all spills.
Northwest Landowners Association Chairman Troy Coons says his group of more than 500 ranchers, farmers and property owners opposed the bill. Coons says all spills should be reported.
State data show there were more than 1,250 spills contained to well sites last year, and more than half of them were less than 10 barrels.
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