BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- A Denver company has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $1,500 fine for killing a bird during drilling operations in western North Dakota.
Fidelity Exploration & Production Co. was charged under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the death of a solitary sandpiper found in an unprotected oil waste pit on May 6.
Under a plea agreement filed in federal court Wednesday, Fidelity will pay the fine to a nonprofit wildlife group.
Fidelity is a unit of Bismarck-based MDU Resources Group Inc.
Slawson Exploration Co. Inc., of Wichita, Kan., agreed Monday to plead guilty and pay $12,000 for killing a dozen birds in North Dakota's oil patch.
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Five other oil companies charged with killing birds during drilling operations in North Dakota this year have pleaded not guilty.
