FREEMAN, S.D. - TransCanada is investigating “visible signs of oil” on a small surface area along its Keystone pipeline right-of-way about four miles from Freeman in southeast South Dakota.
According to a press release from TransCanada sent Monday morning, the incident was first reported at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
“TransCanada immediately began the process to shut down the pipeline, activate its emergency response procedures and dispatch ground crews to assess the situation,” the release says.
The release says no significant impact to the environment has been observed and “our investigation continues.”
The pipeline will remain shut down while clean-up efforts continue.
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Landowners in the area, local agencies and regulatory agencies have been notified.
Freeman is about 50 miles southwest of Sioux Falls.
The Keystone pipeline carries oil south from Canada through eastern North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
TransCanada is the same company that proposed the Keystone XL pipeline, which also would have carried oil south from Canada, but the Obama administration has denied the federal permit needed for that project.
