BNSF to reopen track at site of oil train derailment, fire; spilled oil being cleaned up

BNSF Railway is preparing to reopen its mainline track near the central North Dakota town of Heimdal where an oil train derailed and caught fire.

BNSF says it plans to reopen the line at 1 p.m., after removing tank cars, cleaning up the mess and repairing damaged track.

The state Health Department says the railroad is making progress on cleaning up the oil that didn't burn in the Wednesday wreck but instead leaked into the ground and into a nearby slough.

The six tank cars that derailed were carrying about 180,000 gallons of Bakken crude. State Environmental Health Chief Dave Glatt says a maximum of 60,000 gallons is estimated to have made it into soil or the slough. He says there are no concerns about contamination to drinking water.