WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal transportation officials say investigators found crude oil being transported from North Dakota's Bakken region was misclassified in 11 out of 18 truck shipments tested.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said Tuesday it proposed fining three companies involved in the shipments a total of $93,000. The trucks were taking oil to be loaded into rail tank cars.
A runaway oil train derailed and exploded in the downtown area of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, near the Maine border, in July. Forty-seven people were killed and 30 buildings destroyed.
The accident was a wake-up call for safety officials who were surprised by the severity of the accident. Tests of Bakken oil show it is more volatile than other types of crude.
Oil shipments from the region have soared in recent years.
