Minnesota

Governor Wants Bakken Crude Conditioned Before Transport
As one of the primary shipping routes of Bakken crude oil, nearly 50 trains per week pass through Minnesota.  Concerned with the safety of these shipments, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton wrote to several North Dakota officials, including Governor Jack Dalrymple, requesting that the state require Bakken oil to be conditioned, a process which removes gas from crude in order to reduce volatility, prior to shipping. North Dakota regulators are currently considering rules to treat crude prior to shipping; however, industry representatives oppose the idea claiming the crude is stabilized for transport in the field.