The North Dakota Industrial Commission, acting through the office of the State Geologist, has regulatory authority over core and drill samples, coal exploration, geothermal resources, paleontological resources, subsurface minerals, and Class III injection wells.
Core and Drilling Samples
State law requires that cores and samples from all wells and test borings drilled for oil and gas, subsurface minerals, and coal exploration be delivered without charge to the State Geologist. These cores and samples are stored at the Wilson M. Laird Core and Sample Library where they are used by industry, government and academic researchers.
Contact: Tim Nesheim (701)328-8000
Coal Exploration
Drilling for coal exploration or evaluation requires a permit and is regulated under Chapters 38-12.1 and 43-02-01 of the North Dakota Century and Administrative Codes, respectively. A report of findings must be filed with the State Geologist. Collectively, these reports comprise a database useful to private and government coal researchers and provide information necessary for geologic correlations and economic forecasting.
General Rules and Regulations for the Exploration of Coal
Contact: Ned Kruger (701)328-8000
Geothermal Resources
Geothermal (ground source) heating and cooling systems require a permit and are regulated under Chapters 38-19 and 43-02-07 and 43-02-07.1 of the North Dakota Century and Administrative Codes, respectively. The permit review process helps to ensure that geothermal systems are properly designed and constructed and minimizes the risk of groundwater contamination or other environmental problems.
General Rules & Regulations for the Exploration, Development & Production of Geothermal Resources
Contact: Ned Kruger (701)328-8000
Paleontological Resources
Paleontological resources, on land owned by the State of North Dakota and its political subdivisions, are protected and managed under Chapters 54-17.3 and 43-04 of the North Dakota Century and Administrative Codes, respectively. A permit is required to investigate, excavate, collect, or otherwise record paleontological resources on these lands. The rules also provide a mechanism for monitoring paleontological activities on State lands, thereby providing information for State resources management plans.
Paleontological General Rules and Regulations
Contact: Clint Boyd (701)328-8000
Subsurface Minerals
The exploration, development and production of subsurface minerals require a permit and are regulated under Chapters 38-11.2, 38-12 and 43-02-02 of the North Dakota Century and Administrative Codes, respectively. These regulations cover many of the minerals not included in the oil and gas and coal regulatory programs.
General Rules & Regulations for the Exploration, Development & Production of Subsurface Minerals
Contact: Ned Kruger (701)328-8000
Underground Injection Control
The disposal of fluids into Class III wells requires a permit and is regulated under Chapters 61-28 and 43-02-02.1 of the North Dakota Century and Administrative Codes, respectively. Class III wells are defined as those that inject fluids for the extraction of minerals or energy.
General Rules and Regulations for Underground Injection Control
Contact: Ned Kruger (701)328-8000
In Situ Leach Uranium Mining
The mining of uranium by the in situ leach (isl) method requires a permit and is regulated under Chapters 38-12 and 43-02-02.2 of the North Dakota Century Code and Administrative Codes, respectively. This type of mining may also require permits from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and the North Dakota Department of Water Resources and will require a license from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
General Rules and Regulations for In Situ Leach Uranium Mining
Contact: Ned Kruger (701)328-8000
Regulatory Advisory Role
In addition to its own direct regulatory authority, the Geological Survey acts as an advisor, providing geological information to other state, local, and federal agencies to assist them in their regulatory duties. The Survey provides advice on waste disposal to the Department of Health and Human Services and Consolidated Laboratories and on petroleum geology to the Oil and Gas Division. The Survey evaluates oil and gas lease sale lands for the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands for possible impact on paleontological resources. The Survey is also an advisor to the U.S. Forest Service, Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Land Management on issues regarding the management of paleontological resources on these federally administered lands in North Dakota.
The State Geologist serves as an advisor on a number of boards, including the North Dakota Air Pollution Control Advisory Board, the Water Pollution Control Board, the Lignite Research Council, the Western Coal Research and Development Council, and the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission.