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Published April 21, 2012, 12:00 PM

N.D. panel mulls over extra review of state oil leases

BISMARCK (AP) — North Dakota agencies are drafting a policy to check state land’s environmental value before it’s leased for oil exploration. North Dakota’s Department of Trust Lands holds regular auctions of oil drilling rights on state property.

By: Associated Press, The Jamestown Sun

BISMARCK (AP) — North Dakota agencies are drafting a policy to check state land’s environmental value before it’s leased for oil exploration.

North Dakota’s Department of Trust Lands holds regular auctions of oil drilling rights on state property.

The state holds exploration rights on 2.5 million acres of land. The money goes to a trust fund that benefits schools.

One recent oil lease auction raised objections because some of the land provides important wildlife habitat. Other critics said they didn’t want drilling in remote and scenic parts of North Dakota’s western Badlands.

State mineral resources director Lynn Helms said it would benefit everyone to have environmental reviews of state land before it’s leased for drilling.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple said the reviews can be used to write drilling restrictions into state oil leases.

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