Landowners voice frustration about claims of eminent domain
Kristen Jones
Farmer Staff Writer
Many local landowners addressed the McKenzie County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on Aug. 15, in a plea to get assistance with chronic issues they are having dealing with many oil companies that operate on the Bakken.
At the center of the grievances voiced to the BOCC was the issuance of 20-day notices to landowners stating the intention to drill for oil and gas, and demanding access to private lands through the notice from oil companies..
During their address to the BOCC, landowners stated these letters often cite the North Dakota Century Code and are used as a means to bypass the landowners’ rights.
David Rolfsrud began his plea by explaining, “I have property rights issues with oil companies and pipelines, and I don’t feel my property rights are being protected, in fact I feel like they are being trampled upon, which is a violation of my constitutional rights.