Group identifies plans for Badlands oil development
The land between the Elkhorn Ranch and the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park was identified as a potential test site for better oil field development practices, allowing industry to drill while also protecting the North Dakota Badlands.
The idea for a pilot area came from the Badlands Advisory Group, a task force made up of representatives from ranching, government, conservation and industry sectors and formed in 2016 with the goal of creating an action plan for Badlands oil drilling.
The need for this planning was identified by a Covenant Consulting Group survey of Badlands stakeholders, funded by the World Wildlife Fund, which asked about concerns when it comes to oil development and how it affects the livelihood and recreation activities of residents and visitors.