BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota is requiring oil companies to reduce the volatility of crude before it's loaded onto rail cars.
The new rules went into effect on Wednesday and will require companies to remove certain liquids and gasses from oil train shipments. It's a process some say will make such transport safer.
Crude from North Dakota's oil patch has been linked to several fiery oil train crashes in the past two years.
Industry officials initially balked at the new regulations. But North Dakota Petroleum Council Vice President Kari Cutting says the new rules likely will make crude oil "more stable and safer" for rail transport.
Cutting says companies have spent several million dollars installing equipment to comply with the new rules.