Communities in North Dakota that have experienced the recent Bakken oil boom have had to make big changes to their road and highway departments, their ordinance and tax structures, and their schools. Communities that see an oil boom see not only an influx of money, but an influx of people who require community services.

In addition, landowners in the way of a gas and oil rush sometimes find themselves not knowing the status of their own mineral rights.

Letti Lister says, "Landowners need to know about their water rights and how to apply for abandoned mineral rights, understand how to read a lease, and the things that they need to watch for with that. So we tried to put together a broad spectrum of speeches today."

Friday's oil, gas and mineral rights seminar took place at the High Plains Heritage Center in Spearfish and was sponsored by the Black Hills Pioneer.

Al Van Zee