North Dakota Century Code Title 38. Mining and Gas and Oil Production § 38-11.1-01. Legislative findings

1. It is incumbent on the state to protect the public welfare of North Dakota which is largely dependent on agriculture and to protect the economic well-being of individuals engaged in agricultural production, while at the same time preserving and facilitating exploration through the utilization of subsurface pore space in accordance with an approved unitization or similar agreement, an oil and gas lease, or as otherwise permitted by law.

2. Exploration for and development of oil and gas reserves in this state interferes with the use, agricultural or otherwise, of the surface of certain land.

3. Owners of the surface estate and other persons should be justly compensated for injury to their persons or property and interference with the use of their property occasioned by oil and gas development.

4. This chapter may not be construed to alter, amend, repeal, or modify the law concerning title to pore space under section 47-31-03.