New Oil and Gas Royalty Rates
As a result of Land Board action taken at its meeting on January 26, 2012, lease royalty rates for leases offered at the February 2012 lease auction will remain at 1/6, with the exception of mineral tracts within Billings, Divide, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie, Mountrail, and Williams Counties which will be set at 3/16. The Board administers 2.5 million mineral acres for 13 trust funds. The money from the largest trust fund supports the grade schools and high schools in North Dakota. The Board acts as any other mineral owner and is responsible for representing the best interests of the schools and 12 other trusts that they manage. For this reason, the Board will periodically review the royalty rates on trust land minerals. The higher royalty rates in these 7 counties will bring the trust fund's royalty rates on new leases more in line with those in the private market and produce more royalty income for the schools of North Dakota.
A Little New and A Little Old
The new website is here and since you are reading this, you already realize that something is different. This new website has new functionality to improve your visit. For example, tracts can be electronically nominated for the oil and gas lease auctions and noxious weed cost share applications can be submitted on-line. This first page of the website will highlight changes and "hot topics" and will change frequently. Stop back often to see what is happening in the ND Department of Trust Lands. Please Note: If you have bookmarked pages on the old website, those links will not work and you will need to bookmark the new links from this site.
North Dakota Department of Trust Lands
One of the biggest changes is that for the first time the Department (formerly the State Land Department) has an official name that represents the responsibilities and functions of the Department. On August 25, 2011, the Board of University and School Lands approved the name of the ND Department of Trust Lands. The business of the Department of Trust Lands is to manage lands and minerals for the 13 trust funds of which the common schools trust fund is by far the largest and provides partial financial support for K-12 public schools in North Dakota. The Department is a trust management agency, and the new name will help to identify this primary mission of the Department.
February Oil and Gas Lease Auction
The sale list for the ND Department of Trust Land’s February 7, 2012 oil and gas lease sale has been released. The sale will be held in the House Chambers of the ND State Capitol, and will begin at 9:00 AM CT. With the offering of 834 tracts in 15 counties, there is the potential for this sale to extend into early evening. Please take note of a number of special conditions listed on Page 16, including notice that the Board of University and School Lands is considering adjusting the royalty rate of the tracts included on this list, along with those in future offerings. A decision on royalty rates will be announced by January 27, 2012.
Emergency Services and Response Grant Applications
January/February/March Grant Round for Emergency Services and Response Applications are now being accepted by the Energy Infrastructure and Impact Office. Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2012. Please read the announcement memo for details!
Flood Impact Grant Applications Being Accepted
On behalf of the Board of University and School Lands, the Energy Infrastructure and Impact Office is accepting applications for Flood-Impacted Political Subdivision Infrastructure Development Grants. Applications will be accepted through March 20, 2012. Please go to the website for details!
