Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation submit comments concerning the High Prairie Pipeline Project under OR12-17.

20120712-0012 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/06/2012 OIPlg-i7 MANDAN, HIDATSA Bc ARIKARA NATION Three Afliliated Tribes a Fort Berthold Indian Reservation TIrill&llgieflfx'. Codirriii Tex "Red Tipped Arrow" Hall Offlce of the Chairman June 23, 2012 cI ) The Honorable Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman Q, r ln i 1 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE ~n Washington, D.C. 20246 Dear Chairman Wellingho ffi My purpose for writing is to urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") to use its authority to prohibit discriminatory practices by a common carrier pipeline that would limit the transportation of Bakken Formation crude oil from North Dakota to nearby energy markets. As you know, the Bakken Formation is the most significant oil and gas discovery in the lower 48 states. Several years ago, the U. S. Geological Survey estimated that this Formation contains as much as 4.3 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. And this estimate is only going to increase, with the discovery of the Three Forks Formation, a new reservoir located below the Bakken. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation ("MHA Nation" ) is located in the middle of these two Formations. Over the past four years, oil and gas exploration on the Fort Berthold Reservation ("Reservation" ) has increased exponentially. Currently, about 250 wells are in production on the Reservation, and we expect more than 800 wells to be pmducing on our lands by the end of 2013. There is insufficient pipeline capacity to transport oil and gas produced on the Reservation to energy markets outside of North Dakota. Most of the oil being transported from and through our Reservation is moving by truck or by rail. Simply stated, the roads were not designed for such heavy loads. Our roads are being destroyed by these oil trucks, and we are not able to ensure that our tribal members can safely travel to school or to work. Moreover, transportation by both truck and rail results in lower royalty payments to our Indian mineral owners, as oil being moved in this manner is sold at a discount in energy markets. 404 Frontage Road *New Town, North Dakota a 58763-9402 gd/4- PPd 1/ Phone: 701.627.4781 s Ext. 8112 * Fax: 701.627.3503 20120712-0012 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/06/2012 Document Content(s) 13026945.tif..........................................................1-2 20120712-0012 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/06/2012 For both public safety and economic reasons, the MHA Nation supports the High Prairie Pipeline project, a proposed interstate pipeline that will transport oil &om and thmugh the Reservation to Clearbrook, Minnesota. In addition, the High Prairie Pipeline will be ...