September Soaker Shuts Down Bakken
Heavy Rain Turns Roads into a Muddy Mess
Unusual and persistent rainfall created a travel nightmare for oilfield truckers this week as counties throughout the Bakken imposed weight restrictions to protect gravel roads.
Two-plus inch rainfall amounts were common throughout all of western North Dakota, but the heaviest rain fell on major oil producers in the core. By the end of the week, numerous locations in Dunn, McKenzie, Mountrail and Williams Counties had received four or more inches of rain.
Counties routinely impose road restrictions following heavy rain events, restricting travel to vehicles weighing 12,000 pounds or less. Notifications are issued to oilfield truckers via email or text message through WDEA's
LoadPass Permit system. About 14,000 truckers are signed up to receive the alerts.
Williams County Highway Superintendent Dennis Nelson said he dumped 6.5 inches of rain out of the gauge at the county shop in the past week. Nelson said the situation is "terrible for everybody."
Click
here to listen to Nelson's comments.
Nelson said the county has lined up some assistance from private grading contractors to get the county's 650 miles of gravel roads back in shape. He said oil industry truckers are frustrated, but generally understand the situation. Nelson said he's not sure how serious the impact will be on oil production.
Click
here to listen to Nelson's comments.
There were brief respites between rainfall events when restrictions were lifted allowing normal truck traffic to resume. But because roads were still soggy, most counties were not approving permits allowing the movement of any oversize vehicles. In some areas rain falling on saturated ground caused streams and rivers to rise, prompting closure of roads in Billings and Dunn Counties due to water on the roadway.
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Mixed Opinions on Gas Tax Hike
Chamber Panel Discusses Road Needs
A panel of business and political leaders debated the pros and cons of an increase in the state motor fuel tax during a policy summit hosted by the Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce.
Panelists generally agreed there is a need for additional funds to support the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges in North Dakota, but were generally non-committal about increasing the state's 23-cent-per gallon gas tax.
Surrounding states have higher fuel taxes than North Dakota, so some would argue the state is leaving tax revenue on the table by not imposing the same rate as its neighbors. But Mike Rud, who represents gas station owners through the Petroleum Marketers Association, said although he wouldn't rule out a tax hike but right now it's an economic advantage for North Dakota.
Click
here to listen to Rud's comments.
In addition to the gas tax, the state imposes other fees to support highway construction including motor vehicle and driver's licenses. But Minot Rep. Dan Ruby, who chairs the House Transportation Committee, pointed out not all the funds are spent on road construction. Ruby also noted that last November, voters approved a ballot measure that provided free license plates to volunteer emergency responders. He said it's okay to incentivize volunteer work, but the measure took money away from roads.
Click
here to listen to Ruby's comments.
North Dakota's 23-cent tax hasn't been raised since 2005. The 2019 Legislature debated a proposed seven-cent increase introduced in
SB 2288 by Senator Larry Luick, R-Fairmount. The bill was defeated in the Senate on a 26-18 vote.
Click
here to read a Fargo Forum article on the panel discussion.
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Ethics Commission Organizes
The five newly-appointed members of the state's Ethics Commission held their first organizational session this week.
The group formally elected Ron Goodman, a retired district court judge from Oakes, as chairman. The vice-chair will be Cynthia Lindquist, President of Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten.
Other members are retired Brigadier General David Anderson, retired Sanford Health executive Paul Richard and former Williston Mayor Ward Koeser.
The commission established an ambitious meeting schedule. The group plans to hold two-day meetings every month running through May 2020. One of its first tasks will be hiring an executive director and administrative staff. The ND Legislature appropriated $517,000 to fund the commission's activities over the next two years. Commission members are paid $181 each day they meet and are reimbursed for travel, meal and lodging expenses.
Assistant Attorney General Allyson Hicks, who is serving as legal counsel for the commission, provided procedural advise throughout the initial meeting. The group's next gathering is scheduled October 23-24 in the Pioneer Room at the Capitol. Its members have also been invited to the next meeting of the legislature's interim Judiciary Committee on September 25.
Click
here to read a Bismarck Tribune article about the Ethics Commission's meeting.
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Dickinson Voters Reject School Bond Issue
A plan to fund construction of a new high school in Dickinson was soundly rejected by voters this week. Only about 37 percent of voters approved the plan, which needed a 60% majority to pass.
Unofficial totals show 1,463 votes in favor of the $89 million bond issue, and 2,470 votes against. If approved, the funds would have been used to construct a new 1,600-student high school. It's the second time this year Dickinson voters have rejected a bond issue. A previous $115 million bond that would have also funded construction of a future elementary school was defeated in May by a 57-43 margin.
Dickinson School Board President Brent Seaks was hoping for a better result the second time.
"I am disappointed for my own children and for all the children in our district who deserve a better learning environment," Seaks said. "I'm disappointed for our high school teachers who deserve a better teaching environment. I'm disappointed for the sake of our community as we become a less attractive place to live without a solution to our worn out and overcrowded high school."
State law prohibits the school district from conducting another vote for at least one year. Dickinson Superintendent Shon Hocker said the board and administration will take time to consider their options.
“Many difficult decisions lie ahead," Hocker said. "We will evaluate all options and put forth our best path forward. I'm committed to provide the most relevant, effective, and empowering learning opportunity for all students.”
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Finding Issued on 1804 Project Near Red Mike
The Federal Highway Administration has issued a determination that proposed work on Hwy 1804 in Williams County will have no significant impact on the environment.
The work would consist of roadbed restoration, pavement surfacing, traffic operations and safety, potential access modifications, right of way, passing lanes, turn lanes, horizontal and vertical curve corrections, culvert extensions, roadway realignment, shoulder widening, and incidentals.
The federal agency's finding is based on a June 2019 environmental assessment to discuss the need, environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project and appropriate mitigation measures to be taken. The document is available for
download from the NDDOT website.
It can also be viewed at the NDDOT Williston District Office, 605 West Dakota Parkway in Williston; at the Williston Community Library, 1302 Davidson Drive in Williston; at the NDDOT Central Office, 608 East Boulevard Avenue in Bismarck; and the Federal Highway Administration office, 4503 Coleman St., Suite 205 in Bismarck.
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Port-to-Plains Coming to Williston
Advocacy Group to Meet Oct. 15-17
The Ports-to-Plains Alliance, a transportation advocacy group that helps promotes expansion of the Highway 85 corridor, will hold its annual conference in Williston this fall.
The alliance, based in Lubbock, Texas, will meet October 15-17 at Four Points by Sheraton in north Williston. The meeting agenda includes a number of panel discussions covering the transportation needs of various economic sectors, as well as the importance of a quality transportation network to the economy as a whole. Attendees will also hear a discussion of political issues at the federal and state level, developments along the southern U.S. border, and a keynote address Oct. 16 by Williston Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a Port-to-Plains board member.
The group's membership includes mayors, council persons and other local elected leaders, economic development officials, business and other opinion leaders from nine states and two provinces stretching from Texas to Alberta and Saskatchewan. The group's goal is developing a corridor connecting central Mexico. The Ports-to-Plains region services a 4,950-plus mile economic development corridor of existing highways stretching from the port at Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico to northern Alberta.
Click
here to see the conference agenda. Click
here to register for the conference.
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Economic Leaders to Meet in Dickinson
The Economic Development Association of North Dakota will hold its fall conference October 21-23 at the Ramada Grand Dakota Hotel in Dickinson.
The association, which includes economic development professionals from all across the state, works to promote the creation of new wealth throughout North Dakota to develop more vibrant communities and improve the quality of life.
The meeting includes sessions on business retention and expansion; leveraging partnerships; tourism promotion, encouraging entrepreneurship and the upcoming 2020 census. The event also features a keynote address on growth and retention strategies from Pat Bertagnolli with MBI Energy Services.
Click
here to see the conference agenda. Click
here for registration details.
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Want to Learn About Bridges?
Attend NDLTAP's Bridge 101 Class
It’s all about bridges and the information needed to keep safe working around them.
Bridge 101 is designed for blade operators, truck drivers, road superintendents, along with county, city and township officials, and those in local governmental road or street departments, and anyone else who works or lives around bridges.
The North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program, part of NDSU’s Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, is sponsoring the training just in time for the arrival of colder weather.
- Bridge 101
- Tuesday, Oct. 29: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (CT)
- Ward County Highway Department
- 900 13th Street SE, Minot, ND
There is a $25 registration fee that includes training materials and lunch. Registration deadline is Tuesday, October 22.
Click
here for more information about the training, and
here for a promotional poster.
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Scholarship Application Deadline Extended
The WDEA Executive Committee voted this week to extend the application deadline for the energy scholarships it's offering this fall. The deadline had been tomorrow, but was extended to October 18.
"We opened the application period earlier this year about the time schools were dismissing for the summer break, so many students may not have heard about the opportunity," said WDEA President Gary Wilz. "With classes back in session, we thought it would be a good idea to give high school seniors and post-secondary students a few more weeks to apply for a scholarship."
The association is offering five $1,000 scholarships to students interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. It is open to students who are enrolled in, or plan to enroll in either college or technical school. The application process is easy. Students are asked to complete a one-page form, write up to a 300-word essay describing their interest in energy development, and include a recent transcript. Additional supporting documents may also be included.
Click
here to see the selection criteria. Click
here to view or download the scholarship application.
Scholarship winners will be announced at WDEA's annual meeting, October 30-31 in Minot..
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Registration Open for WDEA Annual Meeting
Sponsorship/Exhibitor Opportunities Available
Registration is now open for the annual meeting of the Western Dakota Energy Association to be held October 30-31 at the Grand Hotel in Minot.
Sponsorships and exhibit space are available to companies or organizations interested in supporting the communities in the energy-producing region of western North Dakota. Click
here for the sponsor/exhibitor form.
The event kicks off at 1:00 p.m. on October 30 with an update on enhancements and expansion of WDEA's
LoadPass Permits system, to be followed by an update on the association's
Wise Roads weather station project. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion about truck permitting issues between industry representatives and county highway managers. The balance of Day One will be devoted to issues associated with North Dakota's growing natural gas production. The day will be capped off by an evening social at 5:30 featuring remarks from Cal Klewin regarding the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway Association and efforts to improve Highway 85.
Day Two opens with a perspective on ethics issues from Minot Senator David Hogue, to be followed by a presentation on workforce issues by Paula Hickel and Susan Ogurek from Job Service of ND, an update on the Western Area Water Supply Authority from Curtis Wilson, and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute's update of its county roads needs study. The morning agenda also features a presentation from the North Dakota Geological Survey about the potential for oil production in different benches in western North Dakota, a panel discussion about the education funding needs of western communities and an interim legislative report from Senator Rich Wardner.
Lt. Governor Brent Sanford will deliver a keynote address during the noon luncheon. The afternoon agenda includes details on lignite research and marketing efforts, and will conclude with a traditional county-by-county production report from Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources. The association's annual business meeting and election of officers will wrap up the event.
Click
here for the agenda and registration details. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Grand Hotel. To receive the discounted rate, guests should mention WDEA Annual Meeting when registering. Contact the hotel at: 701-852-3161 or (800) 735-4493.
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Quick Connect
- Standing Rock tribe to intervene in DAPL expansion case -- Fargo Forum
- U.S. seeks dismissal of tribe's lawsuit over Keystone pipeline -- Associated Press
- North Dakota keeps adding wind turbines. Some aren't happy about it -- Fargo Forum
- Questions about post-production royalty deductions linger, new meeting set -- Williston Herald
- Rep. Armstrong: Bakken oil revolution is easing global geopolitical tensions -- Fargo Forum
- Slowdown, rain prompt high turnout of job seekers at Northwestern Job Fair -- Williston Herald
- Goehring elected president of Nat'l Association of State Departments of Ag -- Bismarck Tribune
- Williston School District gets shot in the arm with Equinor pop-up barbecue -- Williston Herald
- Rural ND school districts find creative solutions to teacher shortage -- Bismarck Tribune
- School bus carrying Grenora junior high volleyball team crashes, two inured -- Williston Herald
- Minot Public Schools to solicit public feedback on facility overcrowding situation -- KFYR-TV
- Gov. Burgum tweaks budget planning for North Dakota state agencies -- Bismarck Tribune
- Wardner predicts legislature will eventually livestream committee meetings -- Fargo Forum
- XWA Airport's goal is to break Williston's all-time enplanement record -- KFYR-TV
- Phase 1 of parallel taxiway at Bowman Regional Airport nears completion -- Bowman Extra
- Greater ND Chamber panelists see crossroads, opportunities in trade war -- Bismarck Tribune
- Little to no business for North Dakota state ethics boards in recent years -- Bismarck Tribune
- ND weather program director touts economics of weather modification -- Minot Daily News
- CHI St. Alexius Hospital expands in Williston with services for new population -- KXMB-TV
- Trump administration drops WOTUS, the Obama-era water protection rule -- Associated Press
- Industry leadership and smart regulations remain the key to emissions reduction -- API
- U.S. shale production expected to lift oil output ahead of government forecasts -- Reuters
- The U.S. exports more oil than Saudi Arabia with increases expected to come -- Bloomberg
- Oil and gas majors sign deal to implement blockchain in ND Bakken oilfield -- Reuters
- National Democrats step on shaky political ground with fracking bans -- Associated Press
- 2020 Presidential candidates: Banning fracking -- not a good idea says IEA -- Energy in Depth
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Factoid of the Week
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute analyzed the impact of a fracking ban on the U.S. economy. The result:
- 14.8 million jobs lost within five years
- Gasoline and other energy prices would soar
- U.S. GDP would fall $1.6 trillion
- A $4,000 annual increase in cost-of-living
- An $873 billion decrease in household income
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September 17-19
Watford City
September 17 - 19
Grand Forks
September 19-21
Bismarck
September 24
Bismarck
September 25
Bismarck
September 26
Bismarck
October 1
Bismarck, ND
October 2
Bismarck
October 3
Bismarck
October 2-3
Williston
October 6-8
Bismarck
October 15-17
Williston
October 16-18
Bismarck
October 21-23
Dickinson
October 23
Bismarck, ND
October 24-25
Bismarck
October 30-31
Minot
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Oil prices and rig count
September 13, 2019
WTI Crude: $54.85
Brent Crude: $60.22
Natural Gas: $2.61
North Dakota Active Rigs: 64 (up 3)
9/13/2018
-- 65 rigs
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Geoff Simon
Editor/Executive Director
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