ND SB2271

Agriculture Commissioner establishes a pilot program providing technical assistance and support to surface owners and tenants on pipeline restoration and reclamation matters.

Agriculture Commissioner may contract with ombudsmen as resources for technical assistance, excluding pipelines installed before January 1, 2006, pipelines regulated by the Public Service Commission, and easement negotiations.

Pilot program may provide technical education, support, and outreach on pipeline-related matters in coordination with other entities, with ombudsmen contracted from local individuals deemed trustworthy by surface owners and tenants.

$400,000 appropriated from the abandoned oil and gas well plugging site reclamation fund for establishing and administering the pilot program from the effective date through June 30, 2017, without requiring additional full-time employees.

Act declared an emergency measure.