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The Energy Infrastructure and Impact Office will be meeting with applicants for the January/February/March 2012 Emergency Services and Response Grant Round February 21 - 24. The agenda will include a short meeting in group followed by individual meetings for those applicants wanting to pass on additional detail regarding their application. Click on this link to access the schedule.

Criteria and Recommendations

The Energy Impact advisory committee has developed criteria and recommendations for the allocation of the grant funds. The current grant rating system includes the following rating categories:

• Objective
• Project Readiness
• Result of Energy Activity
• Relates to health, welfare, and safety
• Budget

Each entity should apply for the funds on a project basis. The funds are not intended to be dispersed without a project application.

Energy Impact Office Director Responsibilities

The 2011 Legislature authorized the Land Board to appoint the Energy Impact Office Director who shall:

1. Develop a plan for the assistance, through financial grants for services and facilities, of counties, cities, school districts, and other political subdivisions in oil and gas development impact areas.
2. Establish procedures and forms for political subdivisions to apply for impact grants.
3. Make grants disbursements to counties, cities, school districts, and other taxing districts for grants awarded by the Land Board. In determining the amount of impact grants for political subdivisions, the amount of revenue that the entities receive from taxes on oil and gas plants and from tax or fund distribution formulas must be considered.
4. Receive and review applications for impact assistance pursuant to this chapter.
5. Make quarterly recommendations to the Land Board regarding grants to counties, cities, school districts, and other political subdivisions in oil and gas development impact areas based on identified needs, and other sources of revenue available to the political subdivision.
6. Make recommendations to the Land Board for the distribution of 35% of the oil and gas impact funds to Williston, Dickinson and Minot, while not recommending that any city receive more than 60% of the funds.
7. Make recommendations to the Land Board for the distribution of 65% of the oil and gas impact funds to other cities, counties, school districts, and other political subdivisions impacted by oil and gas development.

Advisory Committee

The Legislature authorized the Land Board to appoint an advisory committee to assist in making its grant award determinations.

The committee established to make recommendations regarding policies, procedures and distributions of 65% of the Oil and Gas Impact Fund available to the smaller cities, counties, townships and other eligible political subdivisions, is made up of nine members:

• Two County Representatives
  • David Hynek, Mountrail County Commissioner
  • Jim Arthaud, Billings County Commissioner
• Two City Representatives
  • Lyn James, Bowman Mayor
  • Brent Sanford, Watford City Mayor
• One Emergency Services Representative
  • Barry Jager, Burke County Sheriff and Emergency Manager
• One Township Representative
  • Floyd Miller, township officer in Williams County
• One At-large
  • Rick Larson, Energy Industry Representative (and former EDIO director)
• Department of Transportation Director
  • Francis Ziegler
• State Land Commissioner
  • Lance Gaebe