Page 6 ■ Thursday, December 22, 2011


BAKKEN NEWS State may buy time on haze takeover


By LAUREN DONOVAN Bismarck Tribune


Bakken Breakout publishes bi-monthly and takes an in-depth look at oil


exploration and production in the Williston Basin, providing important information about one of the hottest shale plays in the world today.


Protection Agency said she will decide within a month whether a study is war- ranted to test technology promoted by her agency to reduce regional haze in North Dakota. Lisa Jackson’s decision will have far-


The director of the Environmental


tended to improve visibility in Class I air areas. In North Dakota, those are the Theodore Roosevelt National Park units and Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge.


ranging implications for two power plant operators and the state Health De- partment. The federal agency has said it plans to take over the state’s regional haze program for Minnkota Power Coopera- tive’s Milton R. Young station at Center and Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Leland Olds Station at Stanton. Until now, the Health Department


has always implemented federal air qual- ity programs, but that relationship is in jeopardy because the EPA says the state isn’t going far enough in requiring a spe- cifi c kind of technology to reduce nitrous oxide pollution at the two plants. The regional haze reduction is in-


“Within 30 days, Jackson will let us know if the EPA will agree to North Dakota managing its own plan for regional haze, with a two-to three-year period for testing the appropriate technology.”


– Senator R-N.D., John Hoeven


selective catalytic reduction technology. The Health Department says selective


The EPA wants the plants to install


non-catalytic is proven to work with lig- nite while the EPA’s preferred technology is not proven and is far more expensive. The EPA announced it will take over


Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., Jack- son said she’ll decide in 30 days whether the EPA’s preferred technology should be studied fi rst. Hoeven organized the meeting and said the delegation made a case for the state to manage its own plan. “Within 30 days, Jackson will let us


know if the EPA will agree to North Da- kota managing its own plan for regional haze, with a two- to three-year period for testing the appropriate technology,” Ho- even said.


Thune, R-S.D., and Amy Klobuchar, D- Minn.


Burleigh planners to discuss man camps


By LEANN ECKROTH Bismarck Tribune


The Burleigh County Planning and Publishing


January 2012, March 2012, May 2012, July 2012, September 2012


6 annual issues for only $15


Subscribe Today! 250-8211 or 888-557-2250


Zoning Commission opened discus- sion Dec. 14 about a county man camp policy. County commission Chairman Brian


Bitner said it will be the fi rst time the issue is brought up, but he thinks it’s time.


“I think it’s a possibility,” Bitner said


of man camps coming here. “We want to make sure we’re ahead of the game if they do. We don’t want to be behind.” He said no model man camp policies


have been discussed so far. “We know there has been leasing ac- tion in the northern part of the county. That doesn’t indicate there will be drill- ing,” Bitner said. Commissioner Mark


Armstrong


said it is an issue that has affected other parts of the state and he looks forward to starting discussion. “I’m curious what we have in terms of options,” he said. Bitner and Armstrong said existing


county zoning ordinances don’t include anything about man camp type of hous- ing.


Planning and zoning commission- ers also will revisit ordinances for meat


packing plants, though Bitner and Arm- strong said no specifi c companies have inquired yet about a permit for that type of facility. Other items listed on the Dec. 14


agenda are design and building basement restrictions for the fl ood plain, elevating roads in areas of fl ood risk, restrictions on use of 40-acre or smaller land tracts and continued discussion about a mora- torium on new construction in fl ooded areas. (Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 701- 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@bismarcktri- bune.com.)


‘Taking Charge of your Community’s Future’ forums start in January Citizens and community leaders can learn what others


are doing to capitalize on North Dakota’s oil boom, how to understand land use planning and more, at a series of com- munity forums starting in January. “Taking Charge of Your Community’s Future” forums


will explain zoning ordinances and land use planning and help surface owners better understand their rights. The se- ries is sponsored by the NDSU Extension Service.


Topics are: ■ “What We Wish We Knew” — lessons learned from


those who have been through it. ■ “Making Informed Decisions, Part 1” — zoning and


ordinances. ■ “Making Informed Decisions, Part 2” — surface rights,


mineral rights, understanding your lease agreement. ■ NDSU Extension and other resources.


The community forums are: Jan. 18, Glen Ullin School


Gym, Morton County; Jan.19, Underwood City Hall Au- ditorium, McLean County; Jan. 20, Hettinger Research Ex- tension Center, Adams County; Feb. 28, Bowbells, Burke County; and Feb. 29, Lansford Community Center, Renville and Bottineau counties. The meetings begin with registration at 9:30 a.m. local


time. A registration fee of $10 will cover the noon meal and materials. For more information, contact the NDSU Extension Of-


fi ce in the counties above. Morton County residents may request a registration brochure by calling 701-667-3340 or an electronic version by emailing jackie.buckley@ndsu.edu. The brochure also will be available at www.co.morton.nd.us. Burleigh County residents may call the Burleigh County Ex- tension Offi ce at 701-221-6865.


Others at the meeting were Sens. John


the program, forcing its preferred tech- nology, but Jackson’s decision could mean a potentially lengthy delay before anything happens. In a meeting Dec. 14 with Sens. Kent


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