The spill from the TransCanada Keystone XL Oil pipeline in Marshall, County South Dakota turned out to be much larger than reported when it occurred last November. The original spill total was put at 210,000 gallons but this week it was determined 407,000 gallons spilled onto farmland. State Senator Jason Frerichs of Wilmot represents the area where the spill occurred and is hoping state lawmakers will require more accountability from oil pipelines.

He says the frequency and volume of TransCanada’s pipeline spills is much larger than it should be. Frerichs is hoping other South Dakota state legislators and state agencies monitor this type of problem going forward.

Frerichs, who’s not running for re-election because he’s term limited, says he’ll work with another state lawmaker to draft legislation calling for more accountability from oil pipelines.

Frerichs says he wanted state lawmakers to pass a measure calling for a clean-up fund for environmental spills. He doesn’t think it has any chance of passing next session but is hoping to see pipeline accountability improved.