Billings County Commission at their June 7 meeting again delayed a decision on Meridian Energy Group’s application for a proposed refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Read MoreThe Meridian application for a proposed oil refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park is again on the Billings County Commission agenda. This time for Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 9 am MT at the Billings County Courthouse in Medora.
Read MoreToday is Earth Day 2016.
A Fargo Forum editorial questions North Dakota's dedication to our environment. Meridian Energy's application for a zoning change in Billings County to allow for a greenfield refinery just off the southeast boundary of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Board. Meanwhile, Theodore Roosevelt National Park itself is one of 16 National Parks honored by the US Postal Service in its new stamp celebration of the 2016 National Park Service Centennial.
Go figure.
Read MoreThe Billings County Planning and Zoning Committee will be considering Meridian's zoning change application - from agricultural to industrial - this Thursday, April 21, at 1 PM MT. BCA staff will be in attendance and members living in the near vicinity are encouraged to attend and raise concerns about impacts to the Park.
Read MoreFor those of you interested, audio from the Oil and Gas hearings on proposed new rules for 2016 may be found here: https://www.dmr.nd.gov/oilgas/audio/audio.asp
Yesterday's Dickinson hearing coverage in the Dickinson Press: Proposed public input rule catches more ire
The Dickinson Press' coverage of the Williston hearing: Oil regulators visit spill site amid hearing on tougher regulations
Read MoreA goodly number of people attended the second Oil and Gas hearing in Dickinson on proposed new rules. The majority testified in opposition to defining "interested party" and supported keeping the process open to all.
Bismarck Tribune: Message: Don't mess with public's right
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Great turn-out at the first of four hearings. Thanks to all who came out - both testifiers and witnesses.
Bismarck Tribune: Public lashes out at proposed input restrictions
Fargo Forum: ‘Interested party’ definition draws fire at ND oil and gas rules hearing
Read MoreThe ND Oil and Gas Division of the ND Department of Minerals under the ND Industrial Commission (NDIC) will be holding hearings on Proposed Rule Changes for oil and gas regulation, many of which are a commendable move in the right direction. (middle of the home page, highlighted in yellow: https://www.dmr.nd.gov/oilgas/)
However, an arbitrary and capricious “new definition” aimed at who can testify at regular monthly hearings is of great concern to BCA and to others. It is anticipated that the unclear language will exclude public comment entirely and restrict state and federal management agencies.
Read MoreI am proud to be a member of BCA. I feel good about being a conservationist. I even admit, out loud, to being an environmentalist. I feel good about doing my part to try to make our community and state a better place for ourselves and our kids and our babies yet unborn.
But in the last few years—feeling outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and definitely outgunned—I have often hesitated to say anything about my deeply-held belief that we must preserve wilderness. I have been reluctant to speak my mind about the destruction of our wild places. Why the hesitation? I felt, well, alone.
Download the PDF of Wild Badlands #38.
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