Category: Environmental Law
Communicating with your Attorney
Several years back, I was fortunate enough to have a farmer invite me out to his place to show me around a bit. His goal was to help me understand some of the very significant, everyday impacts oil and gas development can have on a farmer or rancher out in northwestern North Dakota. Although I … Read More
Finding Middle Ground
Several years ago I spoke at the International Legislators Forum, which is an annual meeting of legislators from Manitoba, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota put on by the Consensus Council. The forum “provides an opportunity for delegates to share information, understand problems, build relationships, and develop collaborative agreements on a wide variety of issues….” … Read More
What is pipeline fatigue?
There has been a lot of discussion in the past couple years about pipeline fatigue. I suggest to everyone, including the landowners in the oil patch, that there is no such thing as pipeline fatigue. But before you tell me I’m crazy, hear me out. Our firm filed a number of class actions a couple … Read More
Deleted Oil and Gas Division emails resurrected as troublesome issue
After reviewing about 38,700 emails of State Oil and Gas Division employees that were on their way to a permanent cyber dump grounds, a Bismarck attorney is calling for a policy to protect important information for the public. Derrick Braaten said it’s possible the division committed a Class C felony for destroying public records after … Read More
Federal agency to review past flaring, could order royalties be paid
Attorney Derrick Braaten quoted in recent article regarding natural gas flaring, and legal actions intended to find a remedy for mineral owners. “Braaten said he still plans to pursue actions on behalf of royalty owners for flared gas.” “’Most of this flaring, there’s really no argument that the company owes royalties,’ Braaten said. ‘They’ve just … Read More