BISMARCK (AP) - North Dakota's Industrial Commission is requiring oil companies to reduce the volatility of crude before it's loaded onto rail cars.
The three-member Industrial Commission that includes Gov. Jack Dalrymple adopted the rules Tuesday. The new rules go into effect in April and will require companies to remove certain liquids and gasses from oil train shipments. It's a process some say would make such transport safer.
Oil industry officials have said the state already has proper regulations in place. They say regulators are unfairly blaming crude oil when the focus should be directed at railroad safety to ensure trains don't derail.
Bakken crude has been linked to several fiery oil train crashes in less than two years.