Following a report that criticized gas flaring in North Dakota, an industry executive responds

Fargo, North Dakota – The leader of the North Dakota Petroleum Council provided a response to a report that stated the state’s rate of gas flaring is seven times higher than the rate in the state that is geographically closest to North Dakota.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve done We still have the cleanest air, the cleanest water. You look at the Bakken and compare it to any other oil field and its farmland with a little bit of energy on it.

I contend that the Bakken is the cleanest barrel of oil in the world Scott, and these stories should be taken for what they are and nothing more,” said NDPC President Ron Ness, while speaking with host Scott Hennen during an appearance on “What’s on Your Mind”.

According to Ness, the report is founded not on research carried out by state regulators but rather on information obtained from a study that was commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund. According to Ness, the rate of gas capture in the state is currently around 96 percent, and he says that this represents a significant improvement from the levels that have been achieved over the course of the last few years.

“I don’t take my news from the Environmental Defense Fund. They’re certainly able to hirer the consultants they want. I think their process of determining this and their assessment in doing this is always a question. They weren’t on the site where the regulators are at. They likely did a flyover of some type which they do in these studies,” said Ness.