Wasteland in Waiting | Video

Alex Hagan | 4/20/2012

The oil industry leaves a lot of waste that needs to be contained, so the state has to build waste facilities for companies to drop off contaminants. A new waste depot that`s been approved outside of Belfield solves a huge issue in the area but also raises some concerns.

Oil trucks are a common sight around Belfield and a new oil waste facility approved by stark county commission will keep that going.

"With the activity that`s here right now, the commission felt it was probably a necessary, one of the necessary things that`s needed," said commissioner Jay Elkin.

The facility was recently approved because no waste depot is present within a 100 mile radius of the Belfield, Dickinson area.

"The facilities that are available, there going to have to travel a couple hundred miles either to Williston area or they are going to have to travel down to Bowman," Elkin said.

The facility will be built just outside of Belfield along Highway 85, but it has also raised some concerns that need to be checked over before it can be fully approved. Safety concerns and health risks bring up potential issues with the landfill.

"Crude oil, contaminants, hydrocarbons. There are some types of heavy metals in the waste. If that would get into the ground water, that`s something we don`t want to happen," said Division of Waste Management Director Scott Radig.

Even with some concerns, Radig says the depot shouldn`t be much of a risk.

"I don`t anticipate there are going to be any unexpected issues coming out of the investigation."

The developers of the facility have to provide proper dust control and pay for any additional signs on surrounding roads.

Now that the pre-zoning has been approved, the Division of Waste Management needs to inspect the soil and the ground water where the landfill will be constructed in order for building to begin.

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