[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6103377,"mediaKeyId","2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c","parentId",2796750,"title","Panel bars State Energy Research Center from high-level radioactive‑waste projects without extra approvals","audioSeconds",539,"startMs",749000,"endMs",1288000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c&start=749&end=1288","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c/thumbnail_749000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6103377/North-Dakota/Panel-bars-State-Energy-Research-Center-from-high-level-radioactivewaste-projects-without-extra-approvals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103377-630ad91f4e2b1f3ee25f63d76d842abd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900352&Signature=GAm0YNu4AXLY07QnK-uBFN3HjNQF5LME79rKWu01trUCrm-o1CyECtjzt5JVC9w-dAbWnYWF0tTvd2rT79GNjL2FRdzxL7Je1lUFb4sRIm~3g-DO1FMEgTe0vUAXu9J-k7enU1jW15jUdVUhh~6AzQEIR6FRbrvQgaSFqSZmTYc72Fu9FDAnQRTea588hxjNBjf5xyamsP9d9ftNkEO~s7IRiv9EemMuiR6felomTlJVtGVzsm-5aGzAg15ZqfO14b0v3IldBFokIOJEhhjf8-3LlR-lV6pkejcbz6gqqhip5bWfz~VL1Q~nHuKePbUeo~13i334e469aJ6UHFFYvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday amended and voted to pass House Bill 21‑59, adding language that prevents the State Energy Research Center from conducting research or pursuing projects that would result in “exploration, storage, treatment, or disposal of high level radioactive waste in North Dakota” without approval by the North Dakota Industrial Commission or legislative management and in consultation with the high level radioactive waste advisory council.

The amendment’s sponsor, Representative Anderson, read the added clause aloud to the committee: “the state energy research center may not conduct research or pursue projects that will result in exploration, storage, treatment, or disposal of high level radioactive waste in North Dakota … without approval by the North Dakota Industrial Commission or legislative management and in consultation with a high level radioactive waste advisory council.”

The measure removes overstruck language on page two and appends the approval-and-consultation requirement. Representative Novak said he supported adding consultation with the advisory council, calling it “an important component.”

Representative Johnson raised a question about whether the amendment would still allow research into underground storage. A committee member responded that, to date, federal approvals for underground high‑level radioactive waste storage do not exist in the United States and that most current storage systems are above ground. Representative Anderson and others discussed small modular reactor technologies; Anderson said some proposed small modular reactors can use spent fuel rods that larger reactors no longer use, though another committee member noted the most energy recoverable from those rods at base load is roughly 10 percent.

The committee voted to adopt the amendment and then voted to give the bill a “do pass” recommendation as amended. On the roll call, 11 members recorded “yes”; there were no recorded “no” votes and two members were recorded absent. Representative Anderson carried the amended bill forward.

The amendment also references the high level radioactive waste advisory council; a committee member identified that council as inside the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The amendment preserves a blanket prohibition on certain research while creating a process for case‑by‑case exceptions if the specified state bodies approve.

Committee discussion was largely technical and focused on the scope of permissible research under the amendment and on where federal approvals would be required before any underground storage could proceed. The committee adjourned after several other agenda items and additional bills were considered.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 21‑59 — do pass as amended (11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Energy and Natural Resources Mar 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday amended and voted to pass House Bill 21‑59, adding language that prevents the State Energy Research Center from conducting research or pursuing projects that would result in exploration, storage, treatment, or disposal of high‑level radioactive waste in North Dakota unless two state bodies approve and a council is consulted.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28890,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6103362,"Committee recommends do‑not‑pass on bill seeking to alter eminent‑domain cost recovery after new federal ruling",490,2130000,2620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c&start=2130&end=2620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c/thumbnail_2130000.jpg","/articles/6103362/North-Dakota/Committee-recommends-donotpass-on-bill-seeking-to-alter-eminentdomain-cost-recovery-after-new-federal-ruling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103362-bb9ae96c07dfb6e7376e0ec0be5c4076/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900352&Signature=KFB1GwZTNYS2jPXQMjeRpIOeWVXwdTk~iovX-to3Fq7Bx~9E8q2gzCLT~WnYTtjrmuWGXhWtPAG2ULwJ8y3Sy~homVYj2akMgGVW7Z8Cqwuea2YatVRyivtu-cm8G1Bdz25~cf9laN0K8ZL6obZs58GOgiIYoh97CN7ZyB0CvL2jHg5R6Tcb7lEqh3t5tpURbVGhsDmylLAqVXzMDBdKIhVI8-fGHD~mHWEnuTj1udGIowI5mRxHFvojR38dRPN87-K0TBRpaLA3gzW7bHIhRnYmZ7NBZNIMNdu51ETC8WclDNKcru6sTb8OdwErd9N5M6pREWhm~IE6vlZrwnahgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to recommend a do‑not‑pass on Senate Bill 23‑21 after committee counsel and members discussed a recent Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that undercuts the bill’s premise.

Committee staff circulated the appellate opinion and told members the decision, filed March 24, indicates federal courts in the circuit do not allow state law to add attorney‑fee awards when federal eminent‑domain statutes apply. Committee members said the decision made the bill unnecessary because proponents sought to supply state guidance to federal courts on costs associated with condemnation; the court of appeals has already rejected similar arguments and vacated an attorney‑fee award in a recent case.

Representative Hynard moved a do‑not‑pass recommendation and Representative Olson seconded the motion. Representative Hynard argued the Eighth Circuit’s ruling means federal courts that handle condemnation cases will not rely on state provisions to award attorney fees. Representative Johnson asked whether the bill sponsor, Senator Hogue, had been aware of the decision; members confirmed the opinion was issued after the senator’s testimony.

On the roll call the committee recorded 10 yes votes in favor of do‑not‑pass, one no and one abstention/other tally depending on roll formatting; the clerk reported the final tally as 10‑1‑2 (the transcript lists the numeric roll outcome as \"10 1 2\"). The committee chair said the bill would not move forward from the committee.

The transcript does not include the full appellate opinion text or subsequent legal analysis; sponsors or outside stakeholders did not present additional testimony during the excerpt recorded.","The committee voted a do‑not‑pass recommendation on Senate Bill 23‑21 after staff and members reviewed an Eighth Circuit opinion saying federal eminent‑domain law (as applied in that circuit) limits awards such as attorney fees, removing the need for the state statute proposed by bill sponsors.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6103367,"Committee lets wildlife agency use discretion on antelope license allocations",110,1746000,1856000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c&start=1746&end=1856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c/thumbnail_1746000.jpg","/articles/6103367/North-Dakota/Committee-lets-wildlife-agency-use-discretion-on-antelope-license-allocations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103367-1336ecc1e2ee597bb871ea565d0f328c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900352&Signature=h0fG5g7DVnQ2F-XJwbkUd8may2H2~knTzkhKkFcpDWY-lpJQBS6jjP25R3aqjNEYsQ2MHvHa3867fpfPKb6ILXZ~pcCy44UNz01tw02jATUoIGCha~UoIKCOJhXN5o2pNG5qwG5KkHYFU7x8oCWvC0y1qyTHkzuzpw4AgzbiAaYkxGnIm44DJfyEnPimUIhSDhN9PS9WOQV3jaMtLAiAnjcLbU5L4XO0f~hSAvznNbiCq7w71zowZOUUKGl8n9fKuMB70QQYNan~HQHPBR8BIl3IfxmzSgTTnwmtP5LLQ3BJY0D6-90xKgUcA6eAtO2Ec5dY9gQ-wmPgVZumLCXLtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy and Natural Resources Committee amended Senate Bill 21‑55 on Thursday to give the North Dakota Game and Fish Department discretion in how certain antelope hunt licenses are allocated.

Committee discussion focused on page two, line 27 of the bill where staff proposed changing the word “must” to “may” to allow Game and Fish flexibility in units where allocations are tight and the prior language would have restricted opening seasons. A committee member reported discussing the change with Game and Fish and said the agency supports replacing “must” with “may.”

Representative Doctor moved to strike “must” and insert “may.” Representative Anderson seconded the motion; the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and then voted to give the bill a do‑pass recommendation as amended. The clerk’s roll call recorded “yes” votes from members present; the motion carried.

The transcript shows no additional discussion of implementation details, license counts or specific hunting units. The amendment is procedural and gives the wildlife agency discretion to manage license allocations under the revised statutory language.","Senate Bill 21‑55 was amended to change a license allocation requirement from “must” to “may,” giving the Game and Fish Department more flexibility when local license allocations would restrict access.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6103372,"Committee amends bill to align abandoned‑mine reclamation with federal rules, votes to advance",296,1400000,1696000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c&start=1400&end=1696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2796750-6333c3d41a58357079bd68cbc056625c/thumbnail_1400000.jpg","/articles/6103372/North-Dakota/Committee-amends-bill-to-align-abandonedmine-reclamation-with-federal-rules-votes-to-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6103372-e8c38b2e25edf37aaa5a8195acefaeed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770900352&Signature=MKpxGuJ4pbNnPG5DGPv-A~mz1xlUY7gcpkTswWbrLX1C1mvUct~T6kEIrvRCOEn0nBxsB2sV4K6T-QM5DTxXRdZBbAy94nEwDhNSgHuTrjpPtLrqELY2HYvQY9w-F~JI3awZVNsVtF~1q1g~m9AQOGfwMEaaPAcluJrUHX8j6Mer3FGPZsK8sylDuSiNIeSeUZryh9RKoGnfJKy~TnG6aUuGYC1ZsYiO4Py8L6W-ayImhQZTRq~tR9tZfScA-CTTqiYSsp3x3X5pz1FUdWjYGxuu0SuTsH7Bp-BUQylQNTmNTpttOAxEhEDOCncqqU6N9osbem~8k0Urvu5RC5cHjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Energy and Natural Resources Committee adopted technical corrections and voted to advance Senate Bill 21‑17 on Thursday, after testimony from Public Service Commissioner Randy Christman and staff describing how the state’s abandoned mine lands (AML) program works with federal rules and recent federal funding changes.

Randy Christman identified himself for the record and told the committee the AML grant is federally funded and that bipartisan federal infrastructure legislation (referred to as BIL in testimony) expanded program eligibility and funding. \"We get a grant each year to do projects to fix up these old abandoned mines,\" Christman said, adding the federal program aims at dangerous sites, including collapsing underground workings that can threaten roads and structures.

Committee staff reviewed an amendment (version 02/2001). Representative Novak moved adoption of the amendment; the committee voted to adopt it by voice. Representative Novak then moved a do‑pass recommendation for Senate Bill 21‑17 as amended; Representative Olson seconded the motion. The roll call for the due‑pass recommendation showed unanimous support among members present and the motion carried.

Christman told the committee the AML program addresses hundreds of sites and that the program focuses on the most dangerous locations; he stressed the need for state law to match federal program requirements so funds can be used as intended.

The committee’s action was procedural: adopting technical corrections and forwarding the amended bill with a do‑pass recommendation for further legislative consideration.","Senate Bill 21‑17 was amended to incorporate technical corrections and to align North Dakota's abandoned mine lands program with federal Office of Surface Mining rules and new BIL funding allowances; the committee voted to pass the bill as amended.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel bars State Energy Research Center from high-level radioactive‑waste projects without extra approvals

Committee recommends do‑not‑pass on bill seeking to alter eminent‑domain cost recovery after new federal ruling

Committee lets wildlife agency use discretion on antelope license allocations

Committee amends bill to align abandoned‑mine reclamation with federal rules, votes to advance