Oil

Drilling approved in the Killdeer Mountains despite heavy pushback

The decision follows opposition from the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and others who say the sacred site and 1864 battlefield are

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Buffalo's Fire

Buffalo's Fire

January 23, 2024

The North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) approved a proposal by the Hess Corporation to drill for oil in the Killdeer Mountains, but attached specific conditions to the permit following intense public and tribal opposition. The core conflict:

  • Cultural and Historical Significance: The Killdeer Mountains are considered sacred by Native American tribes (including the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) and contain spiritually significant sites like Medicine Hole. Furthermore, the area encompasses the core of the 1864 Killdeer Mountain Battlefield, making it a critical historical and archaeological landscape.
  • The Opposition: The proposed drilling faced immediate backlash from a coalition of tribal citizens, historians, archaeologists, and local landowners. Opponents argued that industrializing the area with oil wells, fracking operations, and traffic would irrevocably damage the viewshed, disrupt the spiritual integrity of the land, and threaten undiscovered historical artifacts. Landowners, such as Loren Jepson, filed petitions to suspend the drilling order and argued for alternative, less invasive drilling methods.
  • The Approval and Conditions: Despite the protests, the NDIC—arguing it had carefully weighed the evidence—allowed Hess to proceed with its leases. However, due to the pressure from opponents, the approval came with concessions. Most notably, Hess agreed to conditions requiring them to immediately cease operations if any archaeological or historical artifacts were uncovered during the drilling process.

The case highlighted a recurring tension during the height of the Bakken oil boom: the clash between rapid industrial energy development and the preservation of North Dakota's irreplaceable cultural and historical heritage.

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Buffalo's Fire

Location: Bismarck, North Dakota
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