Does oil and gas development and degraded soil contribute to poor air quality on the Fort Berthold Reservation?
That’s what a group of students from Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College think may be happening. They have monitored the release of particulate matter and ozone from oil and gas development on the reservation.
The students presented their findings at an air quality symposium hosted by Fort Berthold Power, an affiliate of the Dakota Resource Council, Feb. 4. They found that oil and gas activity has decreased soil quality, which affects the soil’s ability to sequester pollution. An aerial map of Fort Berthold showed the diminished quality of grasslands and soil since 2006 — the start of the Bakken oil boom.
The students hypothesized that increased emissions and degraded soil quality have contributed to the poor air quality on the reservation.
Methane Waste Prevention Rule
Another presenter focused on the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane Waste Prevention Rule, which applies to Fort Berthold. The standard limits the amount of flaring and requires companies to prevent methane leaks from oil and gas wells.
Congress is attempting to rollback the rule, and presenters highlighted the need to keep the standard to improve air quality on the reservation. About 1,500 oil and gas wells are scattered throughout Fort Berthold.
The symposium concluded with a session on the need for more stringent reclamation standards to ensure use of native grasses.
More than 30 people participated in the symposium, including Tribal Chairman Mark Fox and the Deputy Tribal Environmental Director, Scott Baker. Fort Berthold POWER Chair, Lisa Deville, facilitated the event.
Fort Berthold POWER members said they will push for improved air quality by urging their members of Congress to oppose the rollback of the BLM rule.