"For Minnesota's Pristine Wetlands, N.D. Oil Boom Is New Threat"

"A remote wetland near Itasca State Park, already undercut by three crude oil pipelines, is one of several fragile, isolated habitats along the proposed path of the 610-mile Sandpiper crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota."

"ITASCA TOWNSHIP, Minn. -- The boggy ground jiggled underfoot as Paul Stolen walked along La Salle Creek, a tiny wetland stream whose banks are staked with orange plastic posts that say, “Warning, Petroleum Pipeline.”

“There’s water flowing beneath the ground,” said the retired Minnesota Department of Natural Resources biologist.

And crude oil too.

This remote wetland near Itasca State Park, already undercut by three crude oil pipelines, is one of several fragile, isolated habitats along the proposed path of the 610-mile Sandpiper crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota."

David Shaffer reports for the Minneapolis Star Tribune June 8, 2014.