Energy company sues DOI over Fort Berthold lease dispute

Prima Exploration Inc. filed suit May 23 in North Dakota federal court against the U.S. Department of the Interior, claiming it was wrongly told it never held legal interest in a 320-acre oil and gas lease on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. According to the complaint, Prima said the Interior Board of Indian Appeals’ April 23 decision disregards BIA-approved lease assignments dating back to 1999 and a 60-year history of recognized ownership.

Prima is seeking judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing the BIA unlawfully terminated lease portions in 2013 and 2015 and reassigned the land to competitors PetroShale and Enerplus. A DOI representative declined to comment.