ND cites oil firm for alleged water pollution

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota health officials have cited an Oklahoma oil company for allegedly polluting state waters and failing to quickly clean up the spills.

The state Health Department announced Tuesday that it issued violation notices to Continental Resources Inc. for two separate incidents in April. Continental is one the oldest and biggest operators in North Dakota's booming oil patch.

Health officials say about 10 barrels of drilling mud and oil overflowed from a waste pit at one of the company's wells in Divide County and contaminated soil and water. In the second incident, about two barrels of oil spewed from a well in Williams County and spread to water, where one dead duck was discovered.

Company officials did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

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