MONTHLY E-NEWS  |  November 2017

NDPC TOP NEWS

WBPC REGISTRATION NOW OPEN TO ALL PAST SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS

Registration for the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference (WBPC) is now open to all sponsors and exhibitors of the 2016 show held in Bismarck, ND. The WBPC continues to be the largest conference and expo focused on the Bakken and attract leaders in industry and government, including then-candidate Donald Trump.

Past supporters of the WBPC will be given until December 12 to reserve their space before registration is opened to the public. The 2018 conference will be held May 22-24 in Bismarck. For more information, visit www.wbpcnd.org.

NDPC PURSUES PERMITTING OPTIONS FOR TEMPORARY WATER TRANSFER LINES

The North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC) has been meeting with officials from the North Dakota Department of Transportation and Western Dakota Energy Association (WDEA) to develop a model set of permitting requirements for the approval of temporary water transfer lines.  NDPC members have been experiencing a myriad of steps and processes to get the lines permitted in a timely manner.

“This is a new oversight and permitting process for government entities,” said Brady Pelton, Government Affairs Manager for the NDPC. “Everybody wins, if we can work together and develop a model permitting process that adequately engages landowners and allows the state or political subdivision to get the information necessary to quickly approve a permit.”

Geoff Simon, the Executive Director of the WDEA says, “Temporary water transfer lines reduce road impacts, eliminate dust, save wildlife, improve the environmental footprint of industry and most importantly, save lives.”

NDPC will keep you posted on this issue.

LOADPASS PERMITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET DECEMBER 6

The Western Dakota Energy Association LoadPass Permits Advisory Committee will meet next month to discuss township road fees, HB 1320, or the uniform truck permitting, and other permitting issues. The NDPC encourages members to attend and provide perspective as WDEA works toward standardizing township road use fees, what the legal weight limitations are, and the potential to add permits for divisible loads over the legal weight limits.

The meeting will be held on Dec. 6, 2017 at 1 p.m. in the Mountrail County South Complex Community Hall Room in Stanley.  To attend, Please RSVP to permits@ndenergy.org by Dec 4th.

ND HIGHWAY PATROL RELEASES ITS 2018 PERMIT OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURES

The North Dakota Highway Patrol has released its schedule for North Dakota Permit Office Holiday Closures for 2018. Trucks carrying oversized loads should take note of the schedule and travel restrictions. To view the schedule click the link below.

NDCGA TO HOST FREE TRAINING

The North Dakota Common Ground Alliance (NDCGA) will host a free training summit on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at the Bismarck Events Center. The NDCGA is dedicated to ensuring public safety from the dangers of improper treatment of underground facilities through the development of best practices, education, and cooperation. Some of the free training and certification sessions include:

• OSHA 10
• Confined Spaces
• Trench Safety
• Competent Person
• Locator Training and Certification
• Incident Investigation
• Drones in the field
• Hazardous Materials
• Silica Exposure
• Drug and Alcohol Training and Certification
• Locate and Excavator Rodeo

Guest speakers will include JJ Harrison and a group meeting with NDPSC Commissioner Brian Kroshus.  Registration is available on the NDCGA website.

FUELING FUN TOY DRIVE KICKS OFF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The Energy of North Dakota is hosting its Fueling Fun Toy Drive in partnership with United Way and other local charitable organizations to help collect toys for disadvantaged children this holiday season. This year marks the fourth time the NDPC has hosted this event and has collected more than 800 toys for children throughout the Bakken since the charitable event’s inception.

“We’re excited to once again host and participate in this heart-warming event,” said Tiffany Steiner, Marketing and Membership Manager for the NDPC and coordinator of this year’s event. “Our members and their employees are constantly active in the community and participating in events to give back, but during this season of giving, we especially take great pleasure in helping bring joy into deserving children’s Christmas.”

NDPC members throughout the Bakken with the company that collects the most toys winning $1,000 to donate to the charity of its choice. The NDPC is actively participating with United Way, but we welcome other community partners or organizations who can distribute toys to deserving children.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Other Headlines

NDPC GIVES INPUT ON NDIC PROPOSED RULES

The North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC) says administrative rules for reporting of spills and well pad construction requirements that were proposed by the North Dakota Industrial Commission go beyond legislative intent and should be reevaluated for necessity and effectiveness. The NDPC submitted comments to the North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) in October with suggested amendments to the rules, which involved 30 changes to the regulatory framework in North Dakota.

“Many of the 30 proposed rule changes are clearly a step in the wrong direction,” said Brady Pelton, government affairs manager for the NDPC. “Several are simply unnecessary, costly and contrary to legislative intent. We support smart innovative adjustments to existing regulations, but several of those proposed go well beyond minor modifications.”

CUTTING SELECTED TO SERVE ON EPA ADVISORY COMMITTEE

NDPC Vice President Kari Cutting was selected to serve on the EPA Science Advisory Board Executive Committee.  The Science Advisory Board (SAB) is a chartered Federal Advisory Committee, established in 1978 to provide independent scientific and technical peer review, consultation, advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the scientific bases for EPA’s actions and programs. Members of the SAB constitute distinguished bodies of non-EPA scientists, engineers, economists, and behavioral and social scientists who are nationally and internationally recognized experts in their respective fields. Members are appointed by the EPA Administrator for a three-year term and serve as Special Government Employees who provide independent expert advice to the agency. The SAB is especially interested in scientists in the disciplines who have knowledge and experience in air quality; agricultural sciences; atmospheric sciences; benefit-cost analysis; complex systems; drinking water; energy and the environment; epidemiological risk analyses; water quality; water quantity and reuse; ecosystem services; community environmental health; sustainability; chemical safety; green chemistry; homeland security; uncertainty analysis; and waste management.

HELMS: FEDERAL RULES COST NORTH DAKOTA JOBS, TAXES

Lynn Helms testified before U.S. House Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources on Nov. 7 in support of the Secure American Energy Act, which would allow states to manage development of oil and gas production on federal land within their borders.

“North Dakota has a unique history of land ownership that has resulted in a significant portion of North Dakota consisting of split-estate lands that are adversely affected by BLM (Bureau of Land Management) permitting and sundry notice processes,” Helm’s said in his testimony. “Virtually all federal management of North Dakota’s oil and gas producing region consists of some form of split estate.”

Receive OGRP Quarterly

OGRP Quarterly is produced by the Oil and Gas Research Program to provide periodic information and updates on Program activities to the citizens of North Dakota. This quarter, we decided to put a special focus on select, current Oil & Gas Research Program (OGRP) projects to give the reader a flavor of the advancements being made to more effectively produce North Dakota’s oil and gas resources.

If you would like to be added to the newsletter distribution list, provide your email address to: brentbrannan@gmail.com with the subject line “Distribution List” or visit oilresearch.nd/gov. A link to the newsletter can be found at https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ogr/News.aspx

NDPA Monthly Update

View the North Dakota Pipeline Authority’s monthly update here.

DMR Oil & Gas Hearing Schedule

December 13-14, 2017

Januray 17-18, 2018

NDPC Events

• Dec. 7, 2017:  Mingle & Jingle Christmas Social – Bismarck, ND

2018

• March 21:  NDPC Member Denver Social – Denver Petroleum Club
• May 16:  ND Oil PAC Sporting Clay Shoot – Capital City Sporting Clays, Bismarck, ND
• May 22-24: Williston Basin Petroleum Conference – Bismarck, ND  |  More Info
• June 18-21:  Energy of North Dakota Teacher Seminar
• July 17:  Bakken Rocks CookFest – Grenora
• July 18:  Bakken Classic Fishing Derby – New Town
• July 19:  Bakken Rocks CookFest – Twin Buttes
• Aug. 29:  ND Oil PAC Golf Tournament – Bully Pulpit, Medora
• Sept. 24-26:  36th NDPC Annual Meeting – Fargo, ND
• Dec. 6:  Mingle & Jingle Christmas Social – Bismarck, ND