BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The state Health Department says cleanup of a pipeline rupture that caused more than 20,000 barrels of crude to ooze across a northwestern North Dakota wheat field will take twice as long as the company had expected.
The massive spill from a Tesoro Corp. pipeline that was discovered by a Tioga farmer in September 2013. The spill has been called the worst in state history.
Tesoro had said the spill would take two years to clean up. State environmental scientist Bill Suess says it's now estimated to take at least four years.
Tesoro says more than 6,000 barrels of oil have been recovered. Suess says the rest is being baked out of the soil.
Tesoro blames a lightning strike for causing the rupture in the steel pipeline.