November 8, 2019 -- This Place Could be Rockin'
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A wintry shot of the Emmons County Courthouse in Linton, which will host a hearing next week on expansion of the Dakota Access Pipeline. (photo by John E. Deacon -
courthouse.co
)
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Security to be Tight for DAPL Hearing
Plans Made to Ensure PSC Hearing is Orderly
Law enforcement will be visible next Wednesday at the ND Public Service Commission hearing on the application of Energy Transfer Partners to expand the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Reports suggest a large crowd of pipeline opponents plan to attend the Nov. 13 hearing at the Emmons County Courthouse in Linton. The pipeline company plans to add pumping capacity to DAPL that will allow the pipeline to move up to 1.1 million barrels of crude per day. The planned 30,000 horsepower pump station will be located about five miles west of Linton.
PSC Chairman Brian Kroshus says he hopes those attending remain orderly, but precautions have been taken in the event protesters attempt to disrupt the proceeding.
Click
here to listen to Kroshus' comments.
Emmons County Sheriff Gary Sanders said he's been in contact with other law enforcement agencies to assist with crowd control if it becomes necessary. He said it's difficult to prepare because no one is sure how large the crowd will be.
Click
here to listen to Sanders' comments.
Sanders said all who enter the courthouse will be required to pass through a metal detector. He said he's been in contact with the PSC and the pipeline company, as well as Standing Rock Tribal officials who oppose the project. He said the tribe plans to provide two motor coaches to allow tribal elders to attend the hearing. Depending on how many other supporters and opponents show up, Sanders said it could be more than the courthouse can handle.
Click
here to listen to Sanders' comments.
PSC officials said Bektel Communications plans to provide television coverage of the hearing. Plans are also being made to provide an alternative viewing area if the meeting room fills to capacity.
Both Commissioner Kroshus and Sheriff Sanders were interviewed on the radio program
What's on Your Mind this week. Click
here and advance to the 31:20 mark to listen to the full interview with Kroshus. Click
here and advance to to the 27:52 mark to listen to the full interview with Sanders.
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Perspectives on the DAPL Expansion
The North Dakota Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing in Linton on November 13 regarding a proposal for a pump station that would be added to the Dakota Access Pipeline in Emmons County.
The pump station will consist of five 6,000 horsepower electrically driven motors and pumps contained within a building allowing the pipeline to nearly double its current maximum capacity of 600,000 barrels per day.
At the hearing, the PSC will hear the company’s plans for the project and take public input. Commissioner Julie Fedorchak provided clarification on what the PSC expects at the public hearing.
Click
here to listen to Fedorchak's comments from an interview this week on the radio show
What’s On Your Mind with Scott Hennen. Click
here for a news release from the ND PSC regarding the hearing.
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Perspective: North Dakota Tax Revenue Impacts
The Dakota Access Pipeline has had a tremendous impact on oil tax revenue in North Dakota. State Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger said revenue from oil extraction and production taxes offsets taxes that might be levied on state citizens in another way.
The DAPL pipeline allows oil producers to receive a better price for their product creating more tax revenue in the process. Rauschenberger said that in the past two years, the pipeline has created an additional $250 million in oil tax revenue.
Click
here to listen to Rauschenberger's comments.
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Perspective: North Dakota Oil & Gas Industry
The DAPL expansion project optimizes the company's existing pipeline infrastructure with the addition of more facilities to pump oil. There is no new pipeline going into the ground; only construction of a new pumping station in Emmons County.
The pumping station will allow more oil to flow through the existing pipeline infrastructure. Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said it's like drinking more soda from a straw.
Click
here to listen to Ness' comments.
Ness, who was interviewed on the
What’s On Your Mind radio show this week, also commented on how the optimization project will impact the North Dakota oil industry by transporting more oil directly to Gulf Coast markets on the DAPL oil “superhighway.”
Click
here for more of Ness' comments.
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US Energy Security Reduces Military Risk
Burgum Notes Importance of Domestic Production
Energy infrastructure projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline can mean so much more than just moving oil from point to point. Pushing substantial volumes of oil from a large production area to a viable market decreases the nation’s need to import oil from other more volatile parts of the world. And, in some of these locations, troops have been deployed to protect the supply lines.
Gov. Doug Burgum spoke about the impact of our nation’s growing energy security and how it lessens the need to put U.S. troops in harm’s way on the
What’s On Your Mind radio show this week.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
Burgum said unfortunately, the nation’s ability to create the infrastructure necessary for energy security as well as for the needs of a modern society are being blocked by those with ideological viewpoints against the vital infrastructure that supports energy development.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
When the North Dakota oil industry pushed production beyond 1 million barrels per day, Burgum was quick to issue a challenge to reach 2 million barrels per day. The basis of his push to increase production resides in an understanding of what growing tax revenues means to the maintenance and support of ongoing state services.
Click
here to listen to Burgum's comments.
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Poll Finds Support for DAPL Optimization
Nearly 70% of North Dakotans support the optimization of the Dakota Access Pipeline. State residents were surveyed Nov. 1-4 by a nationally recognized polling firm.
“Our nation’s robust pipeline network is key to safely delivering the energy Americans rely on each day,” said Craig Stevens, a spokesman for the GAIN (Grow America's Infrastructure Now) Coalition. “The proposed optimization of the Dakota Access Pipeline will allow for North Dakota’s crude oil to continue to meet our country’s growing energy needs. In addition to supporting high-skilled jobs and reliable, affordable energy, pipelines take the risk off the road. They are the safest, most efficient method of transporting oil and gas products. It is reassuring to see the overwhelming support North Dakotans have for their state’s energy industry."
The survey found that 95 percent of North Dakotans believe the oil industry is important to the state’s economy and 93 percent believe it's important the United States produce its own energy and become energy independent. It also found two-thirds of North Dakotans recognize the role of DAPL in providing millions of tax dollars that benefit local communities, schools, first responders and social services.
“The findings from this poll are clear and positive. Not only do 95% of residents find the industry important to the state economy but, on a bipartisan basis residents feel pipelines in general, and the Dakota Access Pipeline in particular, are the safest way to transport oil across their state,” said pollster Micah Roberts, Partner at Public Opinion Strategies, who conducted the poll on behalf of the GAIN Coalition.
For more information on the poll, click
here.
Editor's Note: This view of pipelines as the safest way to transport crude oil is shared by the Editorial Board at the Grand Forks Herald. See recent opinion article: "
Pipeline still the best way to move oil."
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Roads Roundtable Set for December 18
Counties & Industry to Discuss Road Policies
The Western Dakota Energy Association and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute/NDLTAP will co-host a western roads roundtable December 18 to bring county road managers and oilfield trucking interests together to discuss common issues and concerns.
The gathering will be held at the new McKenzie Public Works Facility, 1300 12th St SE, in Watford City.
A similar event held last year attracted more than 70 individuals representing counties, townships, oil producers and oilfield trucking companies. The key portion of the meeting will be a roundtable discussion of local road restriction policies facilitated by NDLTAP Program Director Dale Heglund.
The agenda also includes legislative and regional community updates, an update on WDEA's Wise Roads project, and updates from MHA Nation and federal highway officials.
There will be NO fee to attend the event, but registration will be required. Registration details will be posted in an upcoming issue of the WDEA newsletter.
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USDA Approves ND Disaster Designation
Burgum, Goehring Grateful for Federal Help
Gov. Doug Burgum and state Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring applauded today's announcement that U.S. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue has approved the state's request for a disaster designation for 47 of North Dakota’s 53 counties, making assistance available to farmers and ranchers struggling with impacts of an early blizzard and abnormally wet fall.
“We deeply appreciate Secretary Perdue’s quick response to our request, because help can’t come soon enough for our farmers and ranchers facing one of the most difficult and stressful seasons on record,” Burgum said. “We continue to explore every available avenue to make sure our ag producers have the resources and tools they need to cope with these unprecedented conditions."
“We are extremely grateful to Secretary Perdue for his swift reply to our request,” said Goehring, who is currently in Mexico with Perdue on a trade mission. “The designation makes resources available to help alleviate the difficult situation North Dakota agricultural producers are facing.”
Individuals affected by flooding and adverse conditions can find information on other farm and ranch assistance at
www.NDResponse.gov.
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Driver’s License Services to Improve
NDDOT Announces Action Plan
Increases in state population and the impending REAL ID deadline is driving higher demand for driver’s license services. In response, NDDOT has announced a comprehensive effort this week called “Drive ND” to improve driver’s license customer service and reduce wait times.
The agency intends to expand and modernize various driver’s license operations over the next few months. A seven-step plan was announced that includes:
• Increase staff in Fargo, Bismarck and Williston by hiring temporary staff.
• Expand REAL ID acquisition to Saturdays at larger locations.
• Relocated Fargo Driver’s License office.
• Work with public schools and business to provide more license testing for Class D license.
• Obtain additional private sector support for CDL testing.
• Modernize operations for faster service.
• Renovate Minot and Williston offices.
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Auditors Launch “I Voted” Sticker Contest
North Dakota 4th Graders Asked to Submit Ideas
The North Dakota County Auditors Association has launched a contest for fourth grade students to design a new “I Voted” sticker for use in the 2020 Election and into the future.
The project is intended to raise awareness of the importance of elections and the role counties play in elections. In addition, it provides a new updated sticker for voters to receive on Election Day.
North Dakota County Auditors will be reaching out to schools across the state in an effort to engage 4th grade classrooms and encourage student participation. The student can create a color design using the form distributed to schools or found directly
here. The design must include the words: “I Voted” and the design must fit in the oval on the form.
Entries can be provided to the county auditor or emailed directly to
contest@ndaco.org by December 20. County Auditors will select one submission from their county to forward onto the statewide competition. The winning design will be announced in April 2020 during County Government month. The “I Voted Sticker” will be used starting in the June 2020 election.
Soliciting the help of fourth graders is a perfect fit for the project. Fourth graders across the state have a North Dakota Studies unit, which includes the right and responsibility of citizens over the age of 18 to vote in elections. The contest provides an opportunity for county auditors and teachers to work together to get kids interested in voting and educated on the election process.
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Extension Offers Civic Leadership Training
Anyone thinking of an elected or appointed position in city, county, or state government is the target audience for LeadLocal, a training program hosted by NDSU Extension.
The program was developed to help prepare individuals for service to their community. It covers topics like parliamentary procedure, conflict negotiation and personality styles.
Click
here for more information.
The cost for the one-day course is $75 and is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The session will be held at the McKenzie County Courthouse.
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Quick Connect
- Keystone pipeline is closed until cause of ND leak is determined -- KXMB-TV
- Sioux tribes amplify calls against pipelines after Keystone spill -- Fargo Forum
- North Dakota sand deposits getting a second look for hydraulic fracturing -- KFYR-TV
- Oil Patch will be next for beyond visual line of sight radar for drones -- Williston Herald
- Basin Electric's Annual Meeting: Expanded investments in Bakken infrastructure -- KFYR-TV
- 3 justices vie to take over top spot on North Dakota Supreme Court -- Associated Press
- Upper Missouri River reservoirs continue releasing high volume of water -- Minot Daily News
- State Auditor Josh Gallion reissues Williston audit, withdrawing two issues -- KFYR-TV
- Minnesota officials still hoping — and waiting — for Enbridge Line 3 windfall -- Fargo Forum
- WDEA Annual Meeting: Job market is still strong; high pay drives high costs -- Minot Daily News
- WDEA Annual Meeting: Schools struggle to keep up with building needs -- Minot Daily News
- District 8 OK's $3 million over 2 years to keep students at Williston High -- Williston Herald
- To battle shortage, ND launches program to pay facilities to attract nurses -- Fargo Forum
- Burgum temporarily eases rules for propane, gasoline and diesel haulers -- Bismarck Tribune
- UND College of Engineering growing in enrollment, cross-campus collaborations -- Fargo Forum
- Student cabinet says progress made on bullying, challenges in mental health remain -- KFYR-TV
- Beulah elementary school works to level the learning field for all students -- Beulah Beacon
- Educational hub makes professional learning more accessible to educators -- Minot Daily News
- Long X Bridge progresses but funding unclear for Hwy 85 expansion -- Bismarck Tribune
- EPA to scale back federal rules restricting waste from coal-fired power plants -- Washington Post
- Increased shale development providing significant savings for US households – Energy In Depth
- Is “consensus” in climate science a good thing or bad thing? It depends what year it is -- IER
- Innovation drives shale revolution, saves U.S. families thousands per year -- Western Wire
- OPEC sees its market share shrinking for years as U.S. oil shale triumphs -- Bloomberg
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Factoid of the Week
About half of the early coal mines in North Dakota were underground with motor trains, sometimes extending for thousands of feet. When steam shovels and other large equipment became available, surface mining replaced the underground work which was sometime dangerous since the mines typically did not have hard rock layers needed to support the ground above the coal seams.
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November 12-13
Fargo
November 13 - 14
Grand Forks
November 13
Linton
November 14
Beulah
November 14
Bismarck
November 25
Bismarck
November 26
Bismarck
November 28
Grand Forks
December 3
Bismarck
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Oil prices and rig count
November 8, 2019
WTI Crude: $57.24
Brent Crude: $62.54
Natural Gas: $2.79
North Dakota Active Rigs: 55 (down 2)
11/8/2018
-- 66 rigs
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Geoff Simon
Editor/Executive Director
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