News Releases for June 2008
June 19, 2008
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Hoeven, Wells Meet With U.S. Interior Sec. Kempthorne, Governor, Chairman Make Progress On Oil Development, Refinery Project
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven and Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Marcus Wells today met with U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, Bureau of Indian Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary George Skibine, and industry partners to help advance several tribal projects, including expedited BIA leasing and drilling permits for oil and gas exploration and a new oil refinery on the reservation.
EXPEDITING TRIBAL OIL EXPLORATION
The Governor and Chairman recently signed an historic state-tribal oil tax agreement that is attracting significant new interest from companies anxious to begin drilling on the reservation. In order to proceed on tribal trust land, however, they need permits and leasing approval from the BIA.
Hoeven and Wells emphasized to Interior officials the fact that BIA needs to add staffing in both Aberdeen and at the Fort Berthold Reservation to expedite both leasing approval and drilling permits by the federal agency.
“Companies are willing and able to make investments on the reservation, so BIA needs to have staffing in place to approve the licensing and permits.”
Kempthorne and BIA officials expressed a willingness to help by adding resources, and indicated they are in the process of increasing staff levels at both locations to accommodate increased activity on the reservation.
MOVING FORWARD ON REFINERY PROJECT
Hoeven and Wells also pressed the agency to complete its review of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a new petroleum refinery on the Fort Berthold Reservation. The Governor is asking Interior officials to approve the EIS so that Environmental Protection Agency can issue a final EIS and a record of decision, clearing the way for developers to move forward on the project.
Also present at the meeting were Horace Pike, a petroleum engineer for the tribe, and Robert G. Wooley, CEO and president of Triad Project Corp., a Utah-based firm that is working with tribal officials to develop the refinery project. Triad Corp. in 1980 build the last free standing refinery in North America, a facility in Calgary, Canada.
IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING TRIBAL ROADS
Hoeven and tribal officials also asked BIA officials to approve a working arrangement allowing the state and tribes to partner on road maintenance and repair on the reservation.
The State-Tribal tax agreement recently signed will significantly increase petroleum development on reservation lands, placing greater wear and tear on roads. Chairman Wells has committed one-third of the tribal tax revenues from the agreement to improving and maintaining reservation roads.
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