MONTHLY E-NEWS  |  July 2017

Registrations Open for NDPC Events

NDPC TOP NEWS

Energy of North Dakota Summer Events Wrap Up

The Energy of North Dakota Summer Events wrapped up with another successful Bakken Classic Fishing Derby and Bakken Rocks CookFest. 

This year's CookFests were held in Westhope on July 18 and Medora on July 20. Well over 2,000 people attended the two events, with Medora attracting the largest crowd in the event's nine years. The CookFest also helped raise more than $2,000 for the Westhope School and more than $1,000 for Home on the Range near Medora, while Weatherford raised an additional $450 for Home on the Range through a raffle. Close-up and FFA students also had the opportunity to raise money for their upcoming trips. 

Congratulations to this year's winners!

Bakken Classic Fishing Derby Nets $20,000 for habitat

The Bakken Classic Fishing Derby was also the largest yet with all 75 teams filled prior to the derby. Despite a small storm that rolled through early in the morning, more than 200 anglers hit the lake in what turned out to be a beautiful day in the afternoon. More than 1,000 pounds of walleye were harvested. Jason Sinness netted the largest walleye at 6.12 pounds while Joey Olson, Mark Feland and Rick Jore of Watford City netted the most with a weight of 24.58 pounds.

Top Placers:

1st:  Joey Olson, Mark Feland, Rick Jore - 24.58 pounds (pictured above)

2nd:  Josh Uran, Jesse Puckett, Anne Puckett - 22.72 pounds

3rd:  Chris Schaffer, Nick McCormick, Loren Smith - 22.31 pounds

4th:  Jordan Vance, Ben Tarap, Dick Wendt - 22.18 pounds

5th:  Jeff Bares, Travis Hennix, Butch Helde - 21.98 pounds

First Dugout Night a Success

The NDPC hosted its first Dugout Night with the Bismarck Larks on Monday, bringing nearly 100 NDPC members together. The event was a great time and we plan to host another night next year!

We want to thank the following members for sponsoring the event:

$500 Sponsors:

• AECOM
• BNI Energy

$250 Sponsors:

• Laventure LLC
• Metcalf Archaeological Consultants Inc.

North Dakota Oil PAC

As we move into the 2017-2018 legislative interim, it is important we begin looking forward to the 2018 elections. The North Dakota Oil PAC was formed in 1981, and has since helped elect many candidates who support the oil and gas industry and work to create and maintain a positive business climate in North Dakota.

Please consider supporting the North Dakota Oil PAC through a personal contribution. It is imperative that we continue to support candidates who support our industry. The last few years brought a fast pace and record-breaking numbers, but times have changed. Spills, flaring and negative media headlines continue to drive the conversation and spur a want for reactionary regulation in challenging economic conditions. We were successful over the course of the 2017 Legislative Session, and an administration change in Washington, D.C. has brought about renewed optimism for our industry. Continuing to providing campaign support to strong candidates will help ensure that business-friendly candidates are elected to office, and make business-friendly, fact-based decisions. 

Please consider contributing to the ND Oil PAC at one of the following levels:

• $350 and above: Bakken Gold Oil PAC Director – Voting member and listed as a sponsor for all remaining 2017 ND Oil PAC Events.
• $200 - $349: Oil PAC Director – A voting member of the ND Oil PAC.
• $50 - $199: Contributor – We appreciate your support. There are no reporting requirements for contributions less than $200.

Contributions can be made online at https://www.ndoil.org/north-dakota-oil-pac-membership/ or by mailing a check to ND Oil PAC, PO Box 1395, Bismarck ND 58502. As a reminder, CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED.

We urge you to support your industry and the North Dakota Oil PAC with a contribution. Please share this information with your friends and colleagues, and encourage them to support the ND Oil PAC as well. We can only accept contributions from U.S. citizens. Thank you.

Other Headlines

Coalition Build to Address Human Trafficking Scheduled for Aug. 14

A special briefing hosted by ConocoPhillips, North Dakota Motor Carriers Association, ConocoPhillips, and Truckers Against Trafficking will be held to inform key stakeholders about child sexual exploitation and human trafficking and related local law enforcement efforts.

In this briefing, you will learn about the realities of domestic sex trafficking (or forced prostitution) and the critical role the trucking industry can play in combating this crime. Because these crimes often occur at truck stops, gas stations, rest areas, busy city streets, loading docks and other locations where law enforcement may not always be present, professional drivers have the unique opportunity to report these crimes. 

We hope this briefing will result in the formation of a network that will bring the resources of your wisdom and leadership to the aid of law enforcement, as we partner in this important work to protect exploited men, women and children.  At this event, you will not only hear from law enforcement and other leaders combating this issue, but you will be able to ask questions and learn about how your business can support their efforts. To RSVP, please send an email to Esther Goetsch at egoetsch@truckersagainsttrafficking.org or call 918-814-7653.

North Dakota Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Operations

Law changes effective August 1, 2017 that affect state permitting system.

House Bill 1255 – Permits available to haul up to 129,000 gross weight on selected roadways.  Axles are required to be legal weight using the inner and outer bridge formula. The roadways are:

• U.S. 2 from the Montana to Minnesota border
• U.S. 52 from the Saskatchewan border to Minot
• U.S. 83 South Dakota border to junction of I-94 at Sterling
• U.S. 83 from Bismarck to Minot
• U.S. 85 from South Dakota border to junction of U.S. 2 

Cost:

• Single trip $35
• Monthly $100
• Annual $700 (calendar year) 

Trailers cannot exceed 53’ with a cargo carrying length of 100’ on the national network. Loads under 105,500 are not affected by the inner bridge formula on state or US roadways. 

House Bill 1288

• An annual overlength permit will be sold for loads up to 120’ in overall length.  All else must be legal.  The permit cost is $150 for a calendar year. 
• Allows for overlength-only loads to travel at night up to 120’ long with proper lighting.
• Increases annual overwidth permit to $150 for a calendar year. 

Senate Bill 2011- Allows the highway patrol to charge up to $15 for the service fee for routable permits.  The NDHP will decrease the service fee to $10. 

Gas Tax Rate Notice

In keeping with the provisions of North Dakota Century Code § 57-51-02.2, the Tax Commissioner has determined that the gas tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018, is $.0.0555 per mcf. The gross production tax on gas produced during this time period must be calculated by taking the taxable production in mcf times the $.0555 tax rate.

For your information, the gas tax rate for fiscal year 2018 was determined by the following steps:

STEP 1 – The annual average of the gas fuels producer price index, commodity code 05-3, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for calendar year 2016 was computed from the data shown below.

• January     96.5
• February    89.0
• March     74.0
• April     79.7
• May     86.5
• June     93.5
• July     119.8
• August     112.5
• September     120.3
• October     125.9
• November     116.1
• December     145.8
• Annual Average     105.0

STEP 2 – A gas base rate adjustment of 1.3871 was computed by dividing the annual average price index by the denominator specified in the statute, i.e., 105.0 divided by 75.7.

STEP 3 – The gas tax rate of $.0555 was computed by multiplying $.04 times the gas base rate adjustment of 1.3871, with the resultant rounded to four places after the decimal.

The gas tax rate is also published on the Office of State Tax Commissioner’s website located at: www.nd.gov/tax. If you have any questions regarding this notification, please contact the Oil and Gas Tax Section at 701-328-3657 or by email at oiltax@nd.gov.

IOGCC seeks Chairman’s Stewardship nominations

The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission is seeking nominations for the 2017 Chairman’s Stewardship Awards. The awards recognize achievement and challenge organizations, companies and individuals nationwide to demonstrate innovation, dedication and passion for our environment. The winners will be honored at the IOGCC Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, October 1-3. All nominations received will be mentioned in the Winners Booklet along with project title. All past winners and their projects will also be mentioned in the Winners Booklet.

You may apply on your behalf or nominate another project. Past winners are encouraged to apply with new projects. Projects should be nominated in one of the following categories: Energy Education, Environmental Partnership, Small Company and Large Company. For more information or to request a nomination form visit iogcc.ok.gov/chairmansstewardship or call Carol Booth at 405-525-3556 ext. 114.

Meetings Planned and Funds Available for North Dakota Apprenticeships

The North Dakota Department of Commerce and its partners have teamed up to host apprenticeship accelerator information meetings. The meetings are focused on creating non-traditional apprenticeships in the manufacturing, energy, IT and healthcare industries. Mark your calendars to attend the date and location that is best suited to you:

• Williston | August 15 | 1 pm - 4 pm  |  TrainND Workforce Training Centre
• Dickinson | August 16 | 9 am - 12 pm MDT  |  Elks Lodge #1137

ND Land Board to seek applicants for trust lands commissioner

State officials approved a short-term extension for the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands commissioner's appointment Thursday, May 25, but also decided to open up applications for the position. Lance Gaebe, whose term was up at the end of June before Thursday's action by the Board of University of School Lands, said he intends to reapply for the position. He said there hasn't been a formal performance review on his position since he took the job in 2010.

The Land Board voted unanimously Thursday to extend Gaebe's appointment until the end of the year or until a potential new commissioner is named. Governor Doug Burgum, who chairs the five-member Land Board, said Cabinet members were asked to reapply for their positions after he took office in December. Gaebe is not a member of Burgum's Cabinet but is appointed by the Land Board, which is made up of the governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, state treasurer and attorney general.

The Department of Trust Lands is responsible for managing the permanent educational trust funds and assets under the Land Board's control. It also manages sovereign mineral acres and operates the Unclaimed Property Division and the Energy Infrastructure and Impact Office. Burgum spokesman Mike Nowatzki didn't have details Friday, May 26, on a timeline for the application process. (Excerpt from a John Hageman story in the Grand Forks Herald. For the full story, click here.)

Receive OGRP Quarterly

OGRP Quarterly is produced by the Oil and Gas Research Program to provide periodic information and updates on Program activities to the citizens of North Dakota. This quarter, we decided to put a special focus on select, current Oil & Gas Research Program (OGRP) projects to give the reader a flavor of the advancements being made to more effectively produce North Dakota’s oil and gas resources.

If you would like to be added to the newsletter distribution list, provide your email address to: brentbrannan@gmail.com with the subject line "Distribution List" or visit oilresearch.nd/gov. A link to the newsletter can be found at https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ogr/News.aspx

NDPA Monthly Update – View the North Dakota Pipeline Authority’s monthly update here.

Oil & Gas Hearing Schedule

October 18-19, 2017

August 23-24, 2017

November 15-16, 2017

September 20-21, 2017

December 13-14, 2017

For more information on any of these issues or to be removed from the mailing list, contact the North Dakota Petroleum Council at (701) 223-6380, ndpc@ndoil.org, or see www.ndoil.org.

NDPC Events

Save the date for the last few NDPC events this year!

• August 23: ND Oil PAC Golf Tournament – Bully Pulpit, Medora, ND  | More info
• September 26-28: NDPC Annual Meeting – Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND | More info
• May 22-24, 2018: Williston Basin Petroleum Conference - Bismarck Event Center