North Dakota to regulate “cocktail of explosive gas”
The Obama administration considered national standards to control explosive gas in oil trains last year but rejected the move, deciding instead to leave new rules to North Dakota, where much of the fuel originates, according to Reuters.
Current and former administration officials told Reuters that they were unsure if they had the power to force the energy industry to drain volatile gas from crude oil originating in North Dakota’s fields. Instead, they opted to back North Dakota’s effort to remove the cocktail of explosive gas — known in the industry as “light ends” — and rely on the state to contain the risk. North Dakota’s regulations come into force next month.