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Pipeline safety bill introduced

A bi-partisan bill has been introduced in the Legislature dealing with pipeline safety.

"With all the incidents that have been happening lately, we've got to do something," said Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson), the bill's main sponsor.

The bill requires pipelines – including saltwater pipelines – built after June 30th, 2017 to have flow meters, automatic shutoff valves and pressure cutoff switches.

Wardner says he wonders whether those things actually work.

"That's the technology we have right now," said Wardner. "However, new technology is coming on the scene as we speak. And maybe we can change it."

Wardner says this is an issue that needs attention.

"We need to take care of it so we don't have these spills in the oil fields," said Wardner.

Democrats who are co-sponsors of the bill say it’s a common-sense solution to address spills.

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