Three environmental groups say the state Industrial Commission needs to stick to its policy on reducing the amount of natural gas flaring in the Bakken.
The North Dakota Petroleum Council has asked for a two year delay in meeting the 85 percent gas capture goal set out in Commission policy. The request is based on a slowdown in the industry, and what some operators say are delays in getting their oil wells connected to natural gas gathering systems.
The Dakota Resource Council, the Sierra Club and the Environmental Law and Policy Center have written to the Commission, asking that it stick to the rules.
"The industry's request for a two year extension is way out of line," said the Sierra Club's Wayde Schafer. "A whole lot of natural gas would be wasted in that time. That's not the goal of the policy."
The Industrial Commission is scheduled to meet Thursday to talk about a delay.