Flaring of natural gas in North Dakota. Photo from Joshua Doubek / Wikipedia

The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of North Dakota wants to reduce "flaring" of natural gas on the reservation.

The tribe wants to be compensated for natural gas that is flared, or burned, during oil production on the reservation. Energy companies would have to pay additional royalties for the wasted resources.

Last month, the North Dakota Industrial Commission adopted a policy to reduce flaring throughout the state. The goal is reduce the practice from 2014 through 2020.

According to the Associated Press, flaring on the reservation accounts for 30 percent of flaring activity in the state. Some energy companies, however, believe the tribe lacks authority to regulate the practice.

Get the Story:
Tribe wants fee on wasted natural gas (AP 8/7)
ONEOK Partners committed to reducing flaring in North Dakota (Reuters 8/6)