Not Good News For Those Riparian Landowners -- The Bakken

Updates

December 28, 2013: the state wins. 

Original Post

Remember that controversy about who owns the "shore zone" -- that area between the ordinary high and low watermarks of navigable waterways?

I don't recall posting this, but it's hard to imagine I missed it. Be that as it may.

But here comes the judge, from Petroleum News: the mineral rights along/under the shore line belong to the State of North Dakota; this "public title excludes ownership and any proprietary interest by riparian landowners.

Drew Combs of Minerals Management division of Trust Lands said it is important for people understate the state’s position. “We’re not trying to make a land grab here,” Combs said, “We have a responsibility to the State of North Dakota.”

There is enough conflicting legal code to suggest this will be going to the US ND Supreme Court (corrected; I had "US Supreme Court"; meant ND Supreme Court; "anon 1" caught it.)

From Laugh In