NORTH DAKOTA ASSOCIATION OF OIL AND GAS PRODUCING COUNTIES
NDAOGPC Newsletter
June 7, 2013
In This Issue
Article 1 - Regional County Representatives to Meet
Article 2 - Workforce Housing Forum Features Information on Temporary Housing
Article 3 - Housing Incentive Fund Ready for Applications and Contributions
Article 4 - Upcoming Events
Article 5 - Oil and Gas Stats
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Derrick well
The North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties (NDAOGPC) is the trusted and unified voice for the betterment of the citizens of North Dakota and the membership of the North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties. Through this newsletter we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date information surrounding the energy activities throughout the North Dakota energy producing counties.
Reminder: Regional County Representatives to Meet

Regional representatives from across the state will soon meet together with NDDOT officials in Bismarck to discuss county road issues, coordinate road projects, and better understand the requirements to qualify for state-provided county road funds.

 

This meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 12, 2013 from 11am to 3pm CT at the NDACo Building Bismarck. The NDACo is located at 1661 Capitol Way, Bismarck, ND.

 

The following are the Regions and NDAOGPC Member Counties associated with those Regions:

 

North Oil Region - Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McHenry, McLean, Mountrail, Renville, Ward, & Williams

Representatives - Dennis Nelson (Williams) and Al Ryberg (Burke) 

 

South Oil Region - Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie, Mercer, Slope, & Stark

Representatives - Al Heiser (Stark) and Ron Anderson (McKenzie) 


SW Central Region - Adams, Burleigh, Grant, Hettinger, Oliver, Morton, Sheridan, & Sioux
Representative - Mike Aubol (Morton)

Many thanks to these Regional Representatives for their time and dedication toward county road improvement! 
Workforce Housing Forum Features Information on Temporary Housing 
Due to the critical housing and logistics challenges facing western North Dakota's oil patch region, CI Energy Group held an informative Forum on Workforce Accommodations, Housing and Infrastructure for the Bakken this week in Bismarck. Participants ranging from area workforce housing developers to state and local officials to housing development regulators gathered at the Radisson Hotel on June 4-5, 2013 to share ideas and strategies to proactively respond to the region's housing issues.

Rep. Keiser
ND Representative George Keiser welcomes conference attendees to the event during his keynote address.
Kicking off the Forum was State Representative George Keiser, who gave an update on what the state accomplished during its 63rd Legislative Assembly in the beginning of 2013. He noted that North Dakota's economic success is "not an accident", particularly due to the low level of unemployment, the record amount of job creation opportunities, and the ability of the state's government to foster a positive business climate. He cited state investments in programs like the Housing Incentive Fund and Flex PACE Program as well as the record amount of money allocated toward infrastructure improvements as key to building toward the state's long-term longevity as a successful state.

Also presenting at the conference were Williston Economic Development Executive Director Tom Rolfstad and ND Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad who gave updates on the state of the energy industry as well as what the future may hold in term of coming developments. Currently, only 36% of produced oil is moved to market via pipeline, according to Kringstad. The rest is hauled by truck, adding strain to roads already stressed by water and equipment hauls. Rail, he said, is opening up the ND Bakken oil market even more by making the price per barrel more competitive. Rolfstad also noted the "spinoff" needs associated with developing the Bakken oil play. Lumber for houses, steel for pipelines, power poles for new and replacement power lines, steel and fiberglass well tanks, frac sand, trucks, equipment, and everything in between are needed for the oil and gas industry to continue conducting business and employing people. Manufacturing, according to Rolfstad, is expected to increase substantially in the region as it moves through the energy development phases.

Workforce Housing Conference Panel
Dickinson City Administrator Shawn Kessel answers a question during a conference panel on future housing needs in the Bakken. To his left are Sandy Rohde, Jerry Chavez, Seth Sampson, and Tim Fisher.
Dunn County Planning and Zoning Administrator Sandy Rohde, Dickinson City Administrator Shawn Kessel, Minot Area Development Corporation President Jerry Chavez, and newly-hired Watford City Assistant Planner Seth Sampson made up a panel that discussed future accommodation and housing needs in the Bakken. Each made mention of the current record development taking place in their areas and alluded to expected growth of the long-term workforce population that will eventually supersede the number of temporary workers in the region. One of the big issues with taking care of the current transient worker population is turning the attitude of area residents toward temporary housing facilities around and making citizens comfortable with the idea that crew camp housing is helping the overall housing situation, said Rohde.

Capping off the two-day conference was a panel that discussed local efforts to transition from the current transient workforce to a more long-term population base. NDAOGPC Executive Director Vicky Steiner shared on the progress of the Vision West ND project and how that is providing a tool for communities to examine how they would like to grow for their futures. Vision West ND provided a means for ND Dept. of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms to share his department's future estimates on energy industry employees based on anticipated industry growth. Those estimates have enabled community leaders to plan accordingly in terms of zoning and permitting of housing developments.

Click here for KXNews coverage of the event and the temporary workforce housing issue in western North Dakota.
Housing Incentive Fund Ready for Applications and Contributions

The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency is ready to put the state's most innovative affordable housing development tool back to work

 

HIF Print Ready Graphic The Housing Incentive Fund (HIF) was reauthorized by the 63rd Legislative Assembly and increased to $35.4 million program. $15.4 million will come from a general fund appropriation. NDHFA is authorized to capitalize the balance of the fund by issuing $20 million in state tax credits.

 

"Developer interest in the fund will be high again this year, and adequate financial support will be required before HIF projects can break ground," said Jolene Kline, NDHFA's planning and housing division director. "Funding shortfalls will result in unnecessary construction delays."

 

More than 600 taxpayers contributed $15 million to the fund during the 2011-2012 biennium providing enough capital to support 24 housing projects. HIF contributors will again receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit, and contributions can be directed to a specific project or community

 

More information on HIF is available online at www.NDHousingIncentiveFund.org. Questions regarding about the fund can be directed to Kline or Bill Hourigan at (800) 292-8621, (701) 328-8080 or [email protected].
Upcoming Events
June 12, 2013

Western county commissioners and road superintendents are invited to hear a presentation from ND State Health Dept. staffer Dave Glatt along with Frances Schwindt, western county dust study project director, and Gerry Fisher with the ND Energy Infrastructure and Impact Office. They will meet at the Outlaws Ballroom in Watford City, ND on June 12, 2013. The group will meet from 10am to noon CDT and discuss dust control options for county gravel roads, including state-approved select saltwater brine from specific wells, and state funding programs. Please have your county and road staff represented at this meeting. 

 

June 12, 2013
As noted above, the NDDOT Regional Representatives Meeting will take place Wednesday, June 12, 2013 from 11am to 3pm CDT at the NDACo Building in Bismarck, ND.

June 13, 2013
The next Vision West ND Consortium meeting will be held Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora, ND. The Consortium will meet from 9:30am to 3:30pm Mountain Time. Please click here for a meeting agenda.
 
June 14, 2013
The NDAOGPC 2013-2014 Budgetary Meeting will take place Friday, June 14, 2013 at the Harold Schafer Center in Medora. The meeting is set to begin at 3:00pm MDT in the Harold Schafer board room.

July 16 and 18, 2013
The North Dakota Petroleum Council is again hosting its 5th Annual Bakken Rocks CookFest this year on July 16 in Powers Lake and July 18 in Parshall. CookFest is a community outreach event that is held in two communities impacted by oil and gas development and is an opportunity for the industry to give back while residents learn more about the industry and the companies operating in their area. CookFest includes a Bakken Basics Education session from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm and live entertainment and BBQ served by industry CookTeams begins at 5:00 pm (CDT).

September 16-18, 2013
The ND Petroleum Council will hold its annual meeting September 16-18, 2013 in Grand Forks, ND. The meeting will be held in the Alerus Center. Registration is set to open Tuesday, June 25. More information can be found by visiting the ND Petroleum Council website at www.ndoil.org.

September 26, 2013
Be sure to mark your calendars for the
NDAOGPC 2013 Annual Meeting set for Thursday, September 26, 2013 at the Ramada Grand Dakota in Dickinson, ND.

May 20-22, 2014 
The 22nd Annual Williston Basin Petroleum Conference will be held May 20-22, 2014 at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, ND. There have already been over 200 hotel rooms reserved for this conference. We recommend booking the hotel rooms that you need now. Conference registration opens on January 29, 2014.
Oil and Gas Stats

ND Petroleum Council Logo WTI Crude: $94.37

Brent Crude: $103.07

Natural Gas: $4.00

ND Rig Count: 191

 

From the ND Petroleum Council's News Clips for June 6, 2013
Please take your time to review all materials and links provided for your convenience.  We will continue to provide you up-to-date information on upcoming events and news happening in North Dakota's oil and gas producing counties!

 

Sincerely,

 

Vicky Steiner
Executive Director

Brady Pelton
Deputy Executive Director

ND Assoc. of Oil & Gas Producing Counties