North Dakota regulators extend, toughen gas flaring mandate
By Blake Nicholson, Associated Press.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators have given the oil industry an additional 10 months next year to cut down on the reduction of wasteful flaring of natural gas but also implemented a stiffer long-term benchmark.
The decision Thursday by the state Industrial Commission pleased neither the industry nor environmental groups, but regulators said it’s a give-and-take aimed at putting more natural gas on the market to the benefit of both energy companies and consumers.
"I'm interested in the end game — where do we wind up," said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who sits not he commission with Gov. Jack Dalrymple and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, all Republicans.