Prosecutor tells ND oilmen enviro laws important

By DALE WETZEL

MEDORA, N.D.

The U.S. Justice Department's top environmental lawyer told a meeting of North Dakota oil company officials Wednesday that tough enforcement of federal environmental laws is good business.

"It is not fair to law-abiding businesses who comply with the law to protect human health and safety when other businesses cut corners, gain an unfair advantage, and profit from noncompliance with the law," Ignacia Moreno said in a speech to the North Dakota Petroleum Council's annual meeting.

"Holding yourselves and each other accountable ... makes the system work," Moreno said.

Moreno is an assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's environment division, which has more than 400 attorneys.

North Dakota's U.S. attorney, Tim Purdon, is prosecuting seven oil companies for violating federal law that protects migratory birds after 28 ducks and other birds were allegedly discovered in oil well waste pits in May and June.

The companies are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Bismarck. Moreno, in an interview, said the case was unrelated to the timing of her remarks to the Petroleum Council.

When violations occur, it is more productive for companies to work with federal regulators in resolving them, Moreno said. Companies that do so also provide guidance on how to avoid future problems, she said.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Moreno's remarks were a standard outline of Justice Department procedures.

State Sen. Bill Bowman, R-Bowman, said regular meetings of state and federal regulators may be helpful in avoiding future environmental difficulties.

"These people are experts in their field, and they have a job to do just like we do," Bowman said. "To be here, and to bring their ideas forward with the industry, that's really important, because no one wants to see North Dakota have a big, major problem."