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North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties
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Stay Connected
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Basin Bits Magazine
This semiannual magazine, published in the spring and fall, is the official publication of the ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties.
To sign up to receive a copy of the magazine, please click here.
To read the latest Basin Bits edition via PDF, click this link.
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Uniform County Truck Permit System
This is a county road permit system for over-weight or over-width vehicles on county roads. Since 1986, the NDAOGPC has operated the Uniform County Truck Permit program as a service to counties and the petroleum industry.
For more information or to get permits, click here.
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 Thank you for your continued interest in the activity of the ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties.
We offer insight on the energy issues of the state and their effects on the communities in western North Dakota.
We hope that you will find this week's News From the NDAOGPC as a valuable source of information.
Have a great weekend!
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Task Force Talks Right of Way Issues
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County commissioners, landowners and oil industry leaders held an informal discussion Wednesday in Tioga, ND about the struggle over right of way easements in Bakken oil country.
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Mountrail County Commissioner Dave Hynek describes right of way issues from a landowner perspective to Task Force members.
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The working group is called the Right of Way Task Force. Organized by the North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC), the group is talking about potential solutions to ease the fatigue and wariness that landowners face with increased requests for permission to cross their land. Ron Ness, NDPC President, had invited county commissioners Dave Hynek, Mountrail County; Daryl Dukart, Dunn County; Richard Cayko, McKenzie County; and Dan Kalil, Williams County. Kathy Neset, Neset Consulting, providing meeting space in her new office building on the north end of Tioga, ND.
The Bakken build out depends on new pipeline connections. Wayne Biberdorf, former Energy Coordinator for the Governor's office and now a consultant, said, "We need to put our best and brightest on this."
A landowners association spokesman suggested a basic pipeline right of way template published on a website so that people can see what kinds of basic information should be covered in the agreement. Landowners would also like to see the company man accompany the land agent so they can see the timeline of the project.
The oil industry has seen joint ventures recently where two companies have shared the same trench to make the easement process less disruptive. Commissioner Dukart said, " We need to learn to capture every inch." Biberdorf asked the group a rhetorical question: Does the industry have a plan and is our current system sustainable to the peak?
The group will continue meeting. The landowners preferred to find their own solution rather than having government involved.
Click here to view a presentation made by ND Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad.
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Land Board Awards Critical Infrastructure Dollars
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The Watford City School District and the community were awarded an $8 million energy impact grant Monday to build street, water and sewer on a 40-acre site where a new high school will be built and a large-scale events center is envisioned.
The funds were awarded by the Board of University and School Lands, which also promised another $3 million next year.
Watford City Mayor Brent Sanford said the grant helps resolve what looked like an impossible financing situation that would have loaded special assessments on a school district already struggling with a debt ceiling.
"That was flimsy at best," Sanford said. "This will help."
He said the money will cover about half the cost of building access and stringing water and sewer to the site located in the new Fox Hills subdivision on the southeast side of town near the airport.
The new high school will go under construction starting this spring and an events center could possibly follow on its heels.
For more information
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Taxation Committee Meets in Minot
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Though property tax issues were the focus of an interim Taxation Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 25, committee members also heard county reports of oil and gas gross production tax revenues and major state assistance programs to oil-impacted counties. Committee members met in Minot, ND for their meeting, allowing for Minot City Assessor Kevin Ternes and Ward County Auditor Devra Smestad to present on current assessments and property tax information related to their entities. Representatives of the the ND Association of Counties also provided information on property tax-related issues including county revenues and costs for providing social services, requirements on public hearings for property tax levy increases, and property assessor certification.  | |
The interim Taxation Committee, chaired by Senator Dwight Cook, Mandan, discusses a summary of oil-producing county revenues and expenditures provided by the ND Tax Commissioner's Office.
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Also presenting before the committee was ND Deputy Tax Commissioner Joe Morrissette, who shared information summarized from county reports required by statute. NDCC 57-51 mandates that a county receiving oil and gas gross production tax (GPT) must file a report showing the "county's statement of revenues and expenditures". Morrissette explained that since this reporting requirement does not require an in-depth breakdown of revenues and expenditures, it is difficult for his office to put together meaningful summaries. He explained that many oil and gas producing counties provide very detailed reports, but some do not. The issue of not having specific county reporting requirements was raised by some committee members who felt that the lack of detailed GPT information could inhibit legislators' abilities to make sound funding decisions in the next legislative session. A bill draft that would require those county reports to be more specific was suggested by Rep. Jim Kasper. |
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Sean Hannity to Headline Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in May
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Talk show personality Sean Hannity will serve as a keynote speaker at the 2014 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in May.
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The ND Petroleum Council announced this week an exciting new headlining speaker for the 2014 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference. Sean Hannity, host of Premiere Radio Networks The Sean Hannity Show and FOX News' Hannity with Sean Hannity, will be a keynote speaker at the 22nd Annual Williston Basin Petroleum Conference.
Hannity is one of the most prominent and influential conservative voices in the country. His program offers a mix of news, commentary, and guest interviews. The Sean Hannity Radio Show, is syndicated to more than 500 radio stations and has a listenership that spans the millions. Hannity is currently ranked No. 2 in Talker Magazine's Top 100 Talk Hosts in America and was listed as No. 72 on Forbes' "Celebrity 100" list in 2013. In October 2003, he received two NAB Marconi Radio Awards for Network Syndicated Personality of the Year and is a three-time consecutive winner of the Radio & Records National Talk Show Host of the Year Award. Hannity is also the author of three New York Times #1 Best-Selling books.
In addition to speaking at the conference, Hannity will record segments for his radio and television programs from the conference and western North Dakota during a tour of the Bakken with Billings County Commissioner and industry leader Jim Arthaud of MBI Energy Services. Hannity agreed to come to the WBPC after interviewing Arthaud on his radio program.
Hannity will speak at 9:30 a.m. CDT on Thursday, May 22, 2014. Hannity will join several oil and gas industry leaders and CEOs to address this year's theme, "Bakken Strong," and discuss the role oil and gas has in strengthening our state and nation's economy, job growth and energy security. The full agenda can be found here. Don't miss Sean Hannity and the rest of this fantastic lineup - register now at www.wbpcnd.com! Take advantage of an early-bird discount by registering before April 15.
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ND County, Metropolitan/Micropolitan Population Estimates Released by Census Bureau
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The U.S. Census Bureau released the agency's annual metropolitan/micropolitan area and county population estimates yesterday showing population growth across all regions of North Dakota. The state had a number of communities and counties ranked as some of the fastest growing in the nation. A metro area contains a population of 50,000 or more, while a micro area contains at least 10,000, but less than 50,000
Three of the top five micro areas ranked as the nation's fastest growing are in North Dakota, with Williston taking the top spot. Dickinson ranked second on the list and Minot rounded off the top five as the fifth fastest growing micro area. In addition to metro/micro areas, two North Dakota counties ranked among the nation's fastest growing counties with a population of 10,000 or more. Williams County was ranked as the fastest growing county in the nation and Stark County was ranked as the
fourth.
In-migration in North Dakota has been increasing the past few years and has been the most significant factor in the state's population growth since the 2010 Census. The estimated net in-migration to North Dakota was 6,900 in 2011, 12,717 in 2012 and 18,051 in 2013. These figures do not include a substantial number of individuals who work in North Dakota, but maintain residency out of state. The population data is a breakdown from the Census Bureau's state and national population estimates released in December 2013. The Census Bureau reported that North Dakota's population has reached 723,393 residents, an all-time high.
http://www.census.gov/.
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NDAOGPC Accepting Applications for 2014 Scholarship Awards
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ATTENTION ND STUDENTS!!
T he NDAOGPC is again sponsoring a scholarship program for students in North Dakota focusing on energy-related degrees. Students who have completed 12 credit hours or more are welcome to apply for one of six scholarships that will be awarded in August 2014. Applicants should be pursuing degrees in engineering, chemistry, geology, petroleum sciences or other studies directly related to the oil and gas industry. Invitations to apply for the Association's 2014 scholarships were recently sent to all North Dakota colleges, universities, and vocational schools. We strongly encourage all readers to share this opportunity with anyone they believe may qualify. The application can be downloaded HERE.
Last year, the Association awarded a total of $10,000 to six deserving students. Don't miss this great opportunity to gain financial assistance for an industry related education! The deadline for application submission is June 15, 2014.
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Upcoming Events
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 April 2-4, 2014
The Developing Unconventionals (DUG) Bakken and Niobrara conference and exhibition is the industry's premier event focused on the Bakken, the emerging Niobrara and oil- and liquids-rich resource plays throughout the Rockies. From upstream drilling and completions to midstream gathering and transportation, Rockies producers enjoy out-sized potential to maximize returns from oil-heavy shale plays and economical tight-gas development. The 2014 DUG Bakken and Niobrara speakers control 3+ million leasehold acres, nearly 15 billion bbls of oil, and will produce over
500,000 BOPD this year. Attend to hear these industry leaders describe how they're staying competitive in this booming region.
Register today using promo code NDAOGPC and save $200 off the full conference price. (Not valid for exhibit-hall-only passes)
April 8-10, 2014
The Western North Dakota Energy Project is hosting an updated webinar series entitled the "Shale Projection Webinar Series" April 8-10. You are invited to participate in this webinar series that will provide updated population, workforce, and housing projections for three regions of western ND. Each of the three webinars listed below will take place beginning at 2:00pm MDT, 3:00pm CDT.
Dr. Dick Gardner, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, will be presenting research, analysis, and projections gathered from contributors including ND Dept. of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms and North Dakota State University's Dean Bangsund and Nancy Hodur.
The three webinars and the areas they will focus on are listed below:
- Tuesday, April 8 - Dickinson Region (Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope & Stark Counties)
- Wednesday, April 9 - Williston Region (Divide, McKenzie & Williams Counties)
- Thursday, April 10 - Minot Region (Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Renville & Ward Counties)
Sessions are presented in a webinar format. To participate in the Webinar, click on http://energizingentrepreneurs.adobeconnect.com/vision-west/. Enter as a "Guest", then type in your name and click "Enter Room". Each session will be recorded for later viewing at: www.visionwestnd.com or www.ndwebinars.com.
April 16, 2014
Financing, Developing & Constructing Public Infrastructure in the Bakken
You have a desired project in mind . . . perhaps a much needed new school, a hospital, a wastewater treatment facility, civic center or affordable housing. How do you get from this "idea" to a finished building? Where do you get financing? Are there innovative financing strategies to consider? What is involved in the construction process? How will you manage the procurement process and the construction process? How will you deal with claims?
All of these questions and more will be addressed by experts in these areas in a full day program focusing on transforming your "idea" into a finished facility.
This conference, designed for city and county staff, engineers, elected officials, economic development professionals, construction industry professionals, and other executives involved with project development and financing in North Dakota, will take place on Wednesday, April 16 at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck. The event will begin at 8:00am CDT and end by 3:00pm. Click here to view an agenda of the event.
Registration to the conference is complimentary, but required before Wednesday, April 9, 2014. Click here to register.
May 20-22, 2014
The 2014 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference will be held May 20-22, 2014 in Bismarck, ND. Booth space is sold out, but limited sponsorships are still available. The full agenda can be found here.
Registration costs will increase on April 16, so we encourage you to take advantage of the early-bird discount and register now. You can do so here.
Limited hotel rooms remain in Bismarck, so please book your hotels as soon as possible. Hotel reservations can be made immediately here.
For more information regarding the conference, please visit www.wbpcnd.com or contact event coordinators at 701.223.6380 and ndpc@ndoil.org.
September 18, 2014
Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2014 Annual Meeting of the ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties to be held Thursday, September 18, 2014 at the Grand Williston Hotel in Williston, ND. Information on hotel room blocks, the registration process, and sponsorship opportunities will be shared as we get closer to the event.
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Oil and Gas Stats
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WTI Crude: $101.67
Brent Crude: $111.47
Natural Gas: $3.77
ND Rig Count: 185
From the ND Petroleum Council's News Clips
for March 28, 2014.
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Please take your time to review all materials and links provided for your convenience. We at the ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties 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 Association of Oil & Gas Producing Counties |
400 East Broadway Avenue Suite 304 Bismarck, ND 58501
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