Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota has reintroduced the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mineral Spacing Act. The bill, co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso, Kevin Cramer, and Steve Daines, aims to streamline the permitting process for energy development and remove redundant regulations. It also seeks to respect the rights of private mineral holders. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Representative Stephanie Bice.

Senator Hoeven stated, "As part of our efforts to make the U.S. energy dominant again, this legislation will empower the development of privately-held and state-owned energy resources, but which can’t currently be accessed due to federal bureaucratic hurdles." He criticized the current system where federal involvement blocks development despite having a minority share in minerals.

Senator Cramer highlighted the common issues faced by North Dakota energy producers due to intermingled state and federal minerals. "This bill simplifies the bureaucratic headache by removing the requirement for federal permits when the federal government is not the majority mineral owner," he said.

Senator Barrasso pointed out that Washington's permitting system has hindered American energy production. "Our legislation will remove burdensome regulations to the permitting process for oil and gas wells in Wyoming and across the West," he commented.

Senator Daines emphasized his commitment to supporting Montana's energy industry. "This bill will unleash American energy by slashing red tape restrictions," he remarked.

The BLM Mineral Spacing Act proposes removing BLM permitting requirements when less than half of subsurface minerals are federally owned and when no surface rights are federally owned or leased. It allows federal royalty collection from energy production within specific units and subjects producers to state laws governing energy activities.

Ron Ness from the North Dakota Petroleum Council supported Hoeven’s approach: "In North Dakota... it simply doesn’t make sense to require costly federal permits on lands where the federal government owns only a minimal percentage of the minerals."

Congresswoman Bice expressed her support for cutting bureaucratic red tape: "The BLM Mineral Spacing Act will streamline the permitting process, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and empower private mineral owners."

The legislation is part of Senator Hoeven’s efforts against what he describes as restrictive policies under President Biden's administration that limit taxpayer-owned resource development.