Putnam Station Oil Pipeline Facility in Sidney, Montana

Putnam Station is an oil pipeline facility located in Sidney, Montana, within Richland County. The facility is operational and serves as part of the broader pipeline infrastructure network in the United States, which is regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) under 49 CFR Part 195 for hazardous liquid pipelines. The facility operates under NAICS code 486110, which covers pipeline transportation of crude oil. The facility is subject to PHMSA's integrity management programs, which require regular inspections, cathodic protection monitoring, and risk assessments to ensure safe operation. In Montana, pipeline infrastructure often traverses rural and agricultural areas, with oversight from both federal and state agencies. Environmental and operational significance of Putnam Station lies in its role within the regional oil transportation network. Pipelines in this region typically connect production areas in the Bakken shale formation to refineries and distribution hubs. The facility's location near the Yellowstone River and agricultural lands necessitates adherence to spill prevention and response protocols to protect water resources and soil quality.

The facility is situated in a rural area near the Yellowstone River, a major waterway in the region. Pipeline operations in this environment require robust spill prevention and containment measures to protect aquatic ecosystems and agricultural lands. The surrounding area is characterized by mixed-grass prairie and farmland, where pipeline integrity is critical to avoid soil contamination and disruption to local wildlife habitats.