Cleanup starts on massive saltwater spill in ND oil patch

Cleanup began early Thursday after nearly 3 million gallons of brine spilled from a pipeline in western North Dakota.

The leak of the salty toxic byproduct of oil and natural gas production is the largest of its kind in North Dakota since the boom kicked off, The Associated Press reports. 

{mosads}The spill contaminated two nearby creeks, but the complete environmental impact is not expected to be known for months. 

While Operator Summit Midstream Partners LLC detected and reported the spill on Jan. 6, state health officials said they were not given a picture of the full size of the leak until Tuesday. 

Dave Glatt, chief of the North Dakota Department of Health’s environmental heath bureau, said the spill does not currently threaten public drinking water or human health, the AP reports.