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May 12, 2011
Page 3
Carlson won't run for re-election
JAMESTOWN - After 15 years
as president of the North Dakota
Farmers Union, Robert Carlson
says he will not seek re-election
again this fall.
"'It's time for a change. I've been
president for ahnost 15 years and
that's long enough," Carlson said.
"We have an outstanding staff,
exciting new business ventures, a
strong membership base and a pros-
perous farm economy. It wtll be a
good time for someone new to step
ill.'"
Carlson will finish out his term
until the end of the NDFU annual
convention scheduled for Nov. 18-
19 in Bismarck. His successor will
be elected at the statewide meeting.
"We will continue our ongoing proj-
ects and activities. We will push for-
ward on our initiatives and make
sure we advocate for our member-
ship. I want to make sure we contin-
ue to work for the 2012 farm bill to
contain good safety nets and protec-
tion for North Dakota producers,"
he said.
Elected in January 1997, Carlson
took on the presidency in one of the
worst years to hit North Dakota.
Carlson remembered, "The weather
of 1997 was so harsh. Cattle were
freezing and drowning, the valley
was flooded and the west had severe
drought. On top of that, prices cop
lapsed. We made lots of trips to
Washington D.C. to fight for emer-
gency funding. Everyone said it
wouldn't get done but with our
advocacy, we succeeded."
N.D. Farmers Union President Robert Carlson has decided
not to seek another term as the organization's president.
(Courtesy Photo)
Sage grouse numt00ers remain low
Results from North Dakota's
spring sage grouse survey indicate
the number of strutting males
observed remains well below man-
agement objectives. Therefore, the
sage grouse hunting season will
remain closed in 2011.
Aaron Robinson, North Dakota
Game and Fish Department upland
game bird biologist, said biologists
counted a record low 63 males on
12 active strutting grounds. Last
year, 66 males were counted on 15
active leks in the southwest.
"Given the increased population in
sharp-tailed grouse this year in the
southwest, we were expecting the
same by sage grouse,' Robinson said.
The number of males counted on
leks each spring has gradually
declined since 2000. In 2008, spring
counts dropped dramatically
throughout North Dakota's sage
grouse range. The specific cause of
the decline was unknown, but West
Nile virus was suspected. There is
no indication that hunting has
caused a decline in the population.
"Our numbers are declining at a
consistent rate of about 5 percent a
year," Robinson said.
Sage grouse management in
North Dakota has followed a specif-
ic plan developed by a diverse
group of participants. The plan out-
lines hunting harvest objectives for
the species with a recommendation
that the hunting season close if the
spring census indicates fewer than
100 males in the population. If the
spring breeding population increas-
es above 100 males, Game and Fish
Department biologists will evaluate
if a hunting season is plausible
given the threats facing the species
in North Dakota.
Sage grouse are North Dakota's
largest native upland game bird.
They are found in extreme south-
western North Dakota, primarily in
Bowman and Slope counties.
Trout stocl
North Dakota Game and Fish
Department fisheries personnel are
in the process of stocking roughly
70,000 rainbow and brown trout in
more than 55 waters statewide.
• Jerry Weigel, fisheries produc-
tion and development supervisor,
said stocking efforts of the 11-14
inch trout will be completed by
May 12. Included are 3,500 1-to-3
ed i q state waters
"The Garrison Dam National
Fish Hatchery trout were on aver-
age among the largest spring trout
ever shipped," Weigel said.
In addition to the Turtle and
Missouri rivers, counties with
fishing waters receiving trout are:
- Adams - North Lemmon.
Bolke Dam
Bowman - Lutz Dam,
Pond, Camels Hump Lake
- Hettinger - Castle Rock Dam,
Mott Watershed
McKenzie - Watford City
Park Pond
- Morton - Crown Butte Dam,
Fish Creek Dam, Gaebe Pond,
Harmon Lake, Krieg's Pond.
Nygren Dam, Porsborg Dam
- Slope - Davis Dam
Tolt00 error
Coal mine could release contaminants
To the editor:
In the very near future the Public
Segvice Commission (PSC) will be
determining if Great Northern
Power Development (GNPD)
should be permitted to mine coal
near South Heart. N.D. citizens
should be concerned about erionite,
uranium, mercury, and other poten-
tial contaminants which are preva-
lent in the South Heart area.
The N.D. Department of Mineral
Resources (DMR) reported contam-
inated uranium mines near Belfield
and Griffin, N.D., resulting in the
deaths of 2,500 sheep, six cattle,
many sick cows and sheep which
"glowed a blue hue." N.D. and U.S.
taxpayers paid for the cleanup.
Lynn Helms, director of DMR,
stated "... something that contains
uranium you've got to worry a lot
about dust ... that's going to be our
number one worry." A1 Lukes, a
consultant for GNPD, stated that
uranium "will be produced into an
ash' that's a glossy substance ...
which could be used on roadways
for dust suppression ..."
Unbelievable!
Erionite, according to N.D.
Department of Health (NDDoH), is
asbestos-like and can cause lung
cancer. Mining should be prohibited
in specific areas. In Libby, Mont.,
an actual asbestos contaminant, ver-
miculite, resulted in the deaths of
200 people. So again, the taxpayers
may be paying for this cleanup.
Mercury, a contaminant released
by coal-fired plants, could be pres-
ent in fish. NDDoH warns that mer-
cury can damage adults' kidneys,
nervous system ... vision. Young
children, developing .fetuses and
breastfed babies are -at most risk ...
damage the brain."
Recently, the PSC abandoned a
reclamation coal mine project; the
contractors stated that $1220,000
to reclaim 150 acres was insuffi-
cient. They demanded $3,000,000,
increasing the cost from
$8,133/acre t O $20,000/acre. At
least 100.000 acres in N.D. should
be reclaimed, costing taxpayers
more than $2 billion. American
Farm Bureau states that agriculture
is the economic engine that drives
the N.D. economy and agriculture
turns the dollars fastest in our econ-
omy.
Will mining companies forfeit
their insufficient bonds for reclama-
tion, walking away with billions of
dollars? The U.S. economic crisis
and political climate may eliminate
any future cleanup funds.
The PSC mission statement
mandates that they "protect the pub-
lic interest and regulate utilities,
mining companies and licensees in
a fair, efficient, responsive and
cooperative manner." If you exam-
ine the history of mining in N.D. or
the rest of the country, it is a history
filled with huge holes and huge
problems. The PSC is very good at
providing permits to the mining
companies, but they have a dismal
record on proactive regulations,
focusing only on short term gains.
Wayne F. Fisher
Dickinson
Fracturing fort00m stirs questions, debate
BISMARCK - The hydraulic
fracturing debate heated up on April
20 at the Bureau of Land
Management's (BLM) Fracking
Forum.
The forum, one of only three in
the nation, convened because BLM
director Bob Abbey is considering
requiring the disclosure of
hydraulic fracturing (fracking)
chemicals on federal public land. In
addition to disclosure, issues of
water consumption, spills and leaks,
waste disposal, and bonding of
wells arose•
One of the panelists was Donny
Nelson of Keene, chair of Dakota
Resource Council's (DRC) Oil and
Gas Task Force, regional represen-
tative on the BLM Resource
Advisory Council, and featured on
Planet Green's " TV series
Boomtown. Nelson is a rancher in
McKenzie County.
"This is not about shutting down
oil and gas development or putting
all public lands and minerals off
limits. We all rely on affordable oil
and gas, and we all support increas-
ing domestic energy production,"
said Nelson. "This is about making
sure that we prevent contamination
of soil and water supplies, and mak-
ing sure that we use those supplies
efficiently and wisely."
Nelson discussed how fracking
uses 30 million gallons of water
every day in North Dakota, and
while DRC supports pulling water
from Lake Sakakawea, that's still a
large amount of water that's lost to
the hydrological cycle. Nelson also
talked about disclosure., articulating
they can be tracked, sourced, and
handled properly.
"Industry and regulators paint a
picture of double and triple check-
ing details, no tolerance for spills,
where every problem is addressed
in a speedy and thorough manner,
and they make sure it never happens
again," Nelson said. "But there is a
different picture on the land.
Problems regularly occur and
landowners can offer valid perspec-
tives on what it takes to get them
addressed."
Lynn Helms, director of the N.D.
Oil and Gas Division, said there
were already 31 reported spills
since the beginning of the year.
Helms and other panelists com-
mented that most of the incidents
arose from faulty equipment and
waste disposal systems.
"I think we all agree that it is
critical to maintain well integrity
and control waste, even if we dis-
agree about how often there are
problems," said Nelson. "Best man-
agement practices are great, but we
need mandatory standards and prac-
tices to address these problems,
especially on public land."
'Several questions were asked
regarding the BLM's capacity to
manage development after the
boom. It is common that when pro-
duction slows, well sites are sold to
smaller companies whose ability to
reclaim is more marginal. BLM's
minimum blanket bond level of
$50,000 statewide was set sixty
years ago and hasn't been updated.
For 3 hours, opposing opinions
were voiced from the public regard-
ing these issues and disclosure on
federal public land. Those. com-
ments will submitted to Abbey as
official record in the BLM's deci-
sion-making process.
"Bottom line, the people of this
state are not stupid - we recognize
that there are potential problems
with fracking chemicals, and disclo-
sure is the rationa4, responsible
thing for the BLM to do," said
Marie Hoff, Chair of DRC.
The North Dakota Farm Bureau
gave an opposing view, and said the
state is in the best position to regu-
late the use of hydraulic fracturing.
"The decisions surrpunding the
use of hydraulic fracturip/g should.
Forum
(Continued on Page 6)
The Friends of the Chateau de
Mores are having a Wine Social
with light refreshments
Saturday, May 14
4:3o p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
pound rainbows from state hatch- Holocek Dam Stark - Dickinson Dike, that knowing what chemicals are
cries in Wyoming. - Golden Valley - Beach City Belfield Pond, Slater Pond used is important to farmers and
ranchers because if problems arise,
Sites to have " " Vit
. a( m00ss00on Graduates of 1961 In ed
Admission will be free at all Williston, Fort Totten State The Senior Class of 2011 from Beach High School invites the
North Dakota state historic sites Historic Site near Devils Lake, and Golden Graduates of 1961 of Beach High School, Golva High
School, and Sentinel Butte High School to participate in their
Wednesday, May 18, in honor of Fort Abercrombie State Historic graduation exercises as guests of honor. There will be
National Historic Preservation
Month. The sites open for the sea-
son Monday, May 16 and remain
open through Sept. 15.
The State Historical Society of
North Dakota manages 55 state
historic sites. Five of these usual-
ly charge admission, but they will
be free May 18. They are the
Ronald Reagan Minuteman
Missile State Historic Site near
Cooperstown, Chateau de Mores
State Historic Site in Medora, Fort
Buford State Historic Site near
Site near Fargo.
Please
support
your local
merchants
Receptionist, Culbertson. MT .
Parts Specialist, Plentywood. MT
Shop Foreman, Plentywood. MT
Service Technician, Glasgow. MT
Service Technician, Plentywood. MT
Service Technician, Culbertson. MT
Service Technician, Circle. M%
Agri Insurance Inc.
• Term Life Insurance
• Universal Life Insurance
Fixed Annuities • Index Annuities
IRAs • Long-Term Care Ins.
Bruce Ross
110 Central Ave. South, Beach, ND (701) 872-4461 (office)
(Across from Bank of the West) (701) 872-3075 (home)
reserved seating for both you and your spouse. The date is
May 22 at 2 p.m. at the Beach High School Gymnasium.
Please arrive by 1:30 p.m. so the Golden Graduates can sign up and receiv'e
flowers in the commons area. Please call the Beach High School office t
701-872-4161 by May 20 if you are planning on attending. If you have an addregs
or phone number of a Golden Graduate who needs to be notified, please call the
above number and we will be glad to contact them.
Playing
Soul Suffer
Pull Bingo Black
Tabs Leanne Benes Jack
$50, April 29 L., Friday & Saturday
Hours: Mon-Fri. 3pm-lam Sat. lpm-lam
Happy Hour: Mon.-Thurs. 5:30-6:30pm
Music will be provided by Lon
Davis from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the
Chateau Interpretive
Center in Medora
Tickets are $1o at the door
Everyone is invited
FARM EOUIPMENT SALES
Servin iyou since 1964
Farm Equipment Sales, Montana's leading John Deere dealer-
ship, is expanding our staff and has exciting career opportuni-
ties available at all of each our 4 locations. FES is currently
seeking experienced applicants for the following positions:
Motivated and dependable applicants seeking long term
employment are encouraged to apply. FES is proud to offer
competitive wages and an industry leading compr.hensive
benefit package including: Paid "rime Off and Paid Holidays,
401k with employer contributions, Medical and Child Care
Cafeteria Plans, Health, RX, Vision, Dental, Life, and AFLAC
Insurance. Relocation Assistance and a Signing Bonus' of
$500 to $10,000 are available for qualified applicants.
To Apply, send a resume and cover letter to:
Farm Equipment Sales, ATTN: HR
PO Box 1071
Glasgow, MT 59230
Or visit any Farm Equipment Sales location for an application today!
Farm Equipment Sales is an Equal Opportunity Employer
HWY 200 East 804 East 1st Ave. 21 W. 2nd ST 54275 HWY 2 East
Circle, MT Plentywood, MT Culbertson, MT Glasgow, MT
59215 59254 59218 59230
(406) 485-2145 (406) 765-1531 (406) 787,6201 (406)228-2496
800-521-5800 800-443-9447 800-348-9919 800-428-2496