First flight: Delta Airlines flight 4007 pulls up to the gate at Williston's XWA International Airport at 11:40 a.m. yesterday, the first commercial flight to arrive at the brand new facility.
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Wardner: Use Legacy Earnings for Roads
Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says he intends to introduce legislation in the 2021 session that would earmark 25 percent of Legacy Fund earnings to the state's Highway Trust Fund, a portion of which goes to local government.
Speaking at the fall conference of the ND Association of Counties, Wardner said if the measure is approved, counties would receive $20.2 million, cities would get $11.5 million and townships and transit operations would receive about $4 million in the 2021-23 biennium.
Click
here to listen to Wardner's comments.
The state retains 61.3% of the highway trust fund, 22% goes to counties, 12.5% to cities, 2.7% to townships and the remaining 1.5% is earmarked for transit operations.
Wardner said as the Legacy Fund grows over time, so too would the amount of road and bridge dollars available to local government under his proposal. By the end of the next decade, earnings from the Legacy Fund are projected to top $1 billion per biennium. That would mean counties could expect more than $55 million and cities around $31 million in the 2029-31 biennium.
The 2019 Legislature rejected an increase in the state's gas tax that would have raised more money for transportation. Wardner opposed the increase, and he said if his plan is adopted, it will not be necessary to raise the gas tax.
Click
here to listen to Wardner's comments.
Wardner, R-Dickinson, is one of 11 legislators serving on an interim
Legacy Fund Earnings Committee. He said the committee will consider many other possible uses for Legacy Fund earnings including low interest loan funds for local governments and water projects, school construction, career and tech ed, behavioral health, university research and the state's park system. The committee's next meeting will be held November 12-13 at the Harry D. McGovern Alumni Center on the NDSU campus in Fargo.
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Panos: "We're All Just One Family"
New NDDOT Director Talks Collaboration
The new director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation said he plans to develop a strong working relationship with county road and bridge departments, and work together to improve the quality and safety of the state's transportation infrastructure.
William Panos, who began his new job just a few days ago after holding a similar position with the state of Wyoming, said North Dakota has many infrastructure challenges. Panos said he plans to meet often with local road departments to get the job done.
"There's a lot we have to do together, and we're all just one family trying to get all of these mobility and safety issues done," Panos told a meeting of county highway superintendents and engineers this week. "There's really no difference to me between the state transportation agency and the county transportation agency. We've just gotta get stuff done."
Panos said he also plans to press the federal government to support the needs of rural communities, an area in which he says progress is being made.
"We're actually pretty effective, I mean really effective," Panos said. "The last couple years alone we've been able to completely change the way that rural states are viewed back in DC. They completely moved policy and funding toward rural states in an unprecedented way."
Panos also commented on the status of state highway construction projects and the impact that recent wet weather has had on contractors trying to get the work done before winter. He said NDDOT staff are evaluating the projects to determine how much of the work will be completed.
"They're doing a list for me now of all the projects that are delayed now," Panos said. "We're trying to organize them into ones we're just going to give up on, ones we can do something with, and ones that we need to push hard on the contractor about."
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EPA Administrator Visits North Dakota
Wheeler Touts State's Environmental Efforts
The administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency toured a North Dakota coal mine and power plant this week, participated in a roundtable with state leaders and spoke at an energy conference hosted by Bismarck State College.
Andrew Wheeler, who was finally confirmed as EPA administrator in February 2019 after serving as the acting head of the agency for more than a year, sang the praises of North Dakota environmental regulators and the companies operating in the state. In an interview with Scott Hennen on the radio program,
What's on Your Mind, Wheeler said he was impressed by the state's coal industry.
Click
here to listen to Wheeler's comments.
Wheeler, who once lobbied for the coal industry, received praise for the EPA's approval of the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, which will replace the Obama administration's unworkable Clean Power Plan. He said the agency will continue to review the rule to ensure that it's fair to low-grade coals like lignite.
Click
here to listen to Wheeler's comments.
Wheeler is a big supporter of the principle of cooperative federalism under which the federal government sets broad environmental guidelines, but allows state officials to work out the details.
Click
here to listen to Wheeler's comments.
The roundtable in which Wheeler participated focused on the EPA's repeal of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which he has characterized as “an egregious power grab.” He pledged to enact a new WOTUS definition that will "provide greater regulatory certainty for farmers, landowners, home builders, and developers nationwide.”
Click
here and advance to the 4:20 mark to listen to the full
What's on Your Mind interview.
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Denbury Files CO2 Pipeline Application
Denbury Resources has submitted an application to the ND Public Service Commission seeking permission to build a pipeline that will bring carbon dioxide to Bowman County as part of an enhanced oil recover project.
The 12-inch diameter welded steel Denbury Green Pipeline would be just short of 18 miles in length, with about 8.5 miles in Fallon County, Montana, and the remaining 9.2 miles in Slope and Bowman Counties. The pipeline would enter the state nearly due west of Marmarth in southwestern Slope County, and terminate about six miles south of the community in Bowman County.
The CO2 will come from the Exxon Mobil Shute Creek Gas Plant in LaBarge, Wyoming, and the ConocoPhillips Lost Cabin Gas Plant in Lysite, Wyoming, and be transported to Denbury’s Bell Creek EOR Development in Powder River County, Montana. The new pipeline will connect at a point 6.3 miles southeast of Baker, Montana. Denbury estimates the price tag for the North Dakota portion of the pipeline will be $9.2 million.
The project will provide for tertiary oil recovery from Denbury’s production wells through injection of CO2 into the oil reservoir which will result in increased extraction and utilization of crude oil resources.
Click
here to read or download the 346-page application.
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Compliance Reporting Webinar Next Week
Hosted by North Dakota Oil & Gas Division
It’s called NorthSTAR – North Dakota Statewide Tracking and Reporting – and it represents a technology upgrade the ND Oil & Gas Division will use to help the agency manage the large amounts of data provided every day by inspectors and operators.
The current system obtains data from operators through a limited number of e-file forms and other methods. The new technology will shorten processing time, improve the quality of data, and allow for better interaction between Oil and Gas division staff and the operators that submit the information.
NorthSTAR will be a cloud-based application that users will be able to log into and receive real-time feedback from staff on the status of form submissions along with access to historical data. A webinar and application demonstration are being held October 15. All webinars are being recorded and posted to the
NorthSTAR website for later viewing.
For more information including the detailed webinar agenda and registration,
click here.
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Cabinet to Focus on Child Care Issues
Gov. Doug Burgum today announced the 12 members of the newly established Children’s Cabinet, which will study and coordinate care for children across the three branches of state government and the tribal nations.
The 2019 Legislature passed
SB 2313 to create the cabinet. Its duties include developing strategies to address gaps or needs in early childhood care and education, medical and behavioral health, child welfare and juvenile justice.
“Surveys, studies and stakeholders have all pointed to the need for a more comprehensive continuum of services for children and families in North Dakota, especially for those with complex behavioral health needs,” Burgum said. “The Children’s Cabinet is an important step toward closing gaps in services and improving outcomes for North Dakota’s youth.”
In addition to Burgum, the Cabinet members are:
State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler
Paula Condol, executive director of the Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center in Bismarck
State Sen. David Hogue of Minot, president pro tempore of the Senate
Kimberly Jacobson, director of Agassiz Valley Social Services District in Hillsboro
Teresa Larsen, director of the Committee on Protection and Advocacy
State Rep. Lawrence Klemin of Bismarck, speaker of the House
North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Lisa Fair McEvers
House Majority Leader Chet Pollert of Carrington
Janell Regimbal, vice president of children’s services for Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota
Russell Riehl, principal at Simle Middle School, Bismarck
Vincent Roehr, executive director of the Child Safety Center in New Town
The Children’s Cabinet will meet at least four times per year and submit an annual report with its findings and recommendations. Its first meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Capitol in Bismarck.
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NDDOT Reminder: Remove Hay Bales
Rights of way on North Dakota highways must be cleared of hay bales by Friday, November 1, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation. If any remain after that date, they will be removed as directed by the district engineer.
According to the NDDOT, the bales need to be removed for snow management and safety reasons. The state Century Code prohibits hay from being placed in the right of way except on the outer edge. Large round bales must not be placed on in-slopes or within 60 feet from the outside edge of the driving lane.
See the NDDOT news release
here.
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Scholarship Application Deadline Oct. 18
The deadline to apply for one of five energy scholarships being offered by WDEA is fast approaching. Applications must be received via email or postmarked by October 18.
The association is offering five $1,000 scholarships to students interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The opportunity is aimed at students who are enrolled in, or plan to enroll in energy-related training at either a 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 such as letters of recommendation 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. The earlybird registration fee for the two-day event is just $95.00, but will increase to $120 after Oct. 18.
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. All revenue from sponsor fees goes toward the WDEA Scholarship Program for students aspiring to a career in the energy sector.
The meeting 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 Tim Nesheim with the North Dakota Geologic 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
- Refracturing likely to be next big trend for oil in the Bakken -- Williston Herald
- Halliburton laying off 650, not in Williston but ND is on list -- Williston Herald
- EPA and state agree: Companies to self-report environmental problems -- Bismarck Tribune
- EPA chief visit vows Waters of the US definition to 'stand the test of time' -- Bismarck Tribune
- Greenfield refinery near Belfield agrees to use recycled water in operations -- Williston Herald
- Oil industry and enviro group weigh in on proposed abandoned well rules -- Bismarck Tribune
- North Dakota Ethics Commission receives first complaint, details to come -- Bismarck Tribune
- District 8 school board discusses solutions for high school students -- Williston Herald
- District 8 resident asking for help with survey on school district's future -- Williston Herald
- Dickinson High School to switch from state assessment to ACT -- Dickinson Press
- STEM Education: Gateway to Science breaks ground on new Bismarck building -- KFYR-TV
- The people's airport: First flight lands at Williston Basin International Airport -- Williston Herald
- ND taxable sales and purchases show growth for ninth straight quarter -- Fargo Forum
- Williston region's openings down slightly, but continue to exceed job seekers -- Williston Herald
- Montgomery elected to full term on ND County Commissioners Association -- Williston Herald
- North Prairie Rural Water constructs multiple projects for rural storage -- Minot Daily News
- Beulah: A town divided by upcoming special election vote, confusion exists -- Beulah Beacon
- Increased oil exports and lower net imports translate to greater energy security -- API
- Interview: Reps. Scalise, Mullin and Duncan on American energy issues -- Energy in Depth
- Courts wrong forum to solve climate change says enviro law expert -- InsideSources
- Pipeline safety takes a step forward, new PHMSA rules years in the making -- Forbes
- Property rights tensions stir debate amid continued gas pipeline buildout -- S&P Global
- Sales of electric vehicles in China are slowing dropping 5% and 11% in a year -- IER
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Factoid of the Week
The snowiest year on record in North Dakota was 1966 which included the infamous March blizzard where most of the state saw more than 30 inches of snow. Hundreds of people were stranded and multiple deaths were reported. Thousands of livestock perished. It took days to dig people out.
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October 15-17
Williston
October 16-17
Rapid City, SD
October 16-18
Bismarck
October 21-23
Dickinson
October 23
Bismarck, ND
October 24
Bismarck
October 24-25
Bismarck
October 30
Devils Lake, ND
October 30-31
Minot
November 4-5
Williston, ND
November 6
Bismarck, ND
November 12-13
Fargo, ND
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Oil prices and rig count
October 11, 2019
WTI Crude: $54.70
Brent Crude: $60.51
Natural Gas: $2.21
North Dakota Active Rigs: 58 (unchg)
10/11/2018
-- 68 rigs
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Geoff Simon
Editor/Executive Director
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