North Dakota Century Code Title 38. Mining and Gas and Oil Production § 38-18-02. Legislative findings

1. The legislative assembly finds that it is necessary to exercise the police power of the state as described in this chapter 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. This finding recognizes that the people of North Dakota desire to retain a strong agricultural economy and that North Dakota currently produces three percent of the food for the entire nation.

2. Furthermore, the legislative assembly finds that there is an abundance of minerals in North Dakota which can be used for the production of electricity, synthetic natural gas, and other forms of energy, and that energy produced from North Dakota minerals is needed by the nation and North Dakota is capable of producing up to two and one-half percent of the nation's energy needs if the minerals found here are fully developed.

3. The legislative assembly further finds that mining development may temporarily interfere with portions of the agricultural economy.