GoinThisAway wrote:
My advice ... enjoy! And while you're in the area, it would be interesting to see how low fuel prices have affected the land and people in ND. It wasn't so long ago that we were hearing stories about how a "fracking" boom was affecting Williston and other parts of the area. I recall reading how the Theodore Roosevelt National Park was working to protect the viewscape and soundscape from well development just outside its border. I expect things have changed substantially there in recent years but we're not hearing this story in the press.
Yes, in June we saw some drilling on lands surrounding TRNP - but it did not seem particularly invasive visually. At least not any more than other states that operate in the oil industry. I'm not sure how it directly effects the underground water tables or the wilderness areas.
It happened so coincidentally it was hard to believe, but we sat next to a "retired legislator" for N Dakota at breakfast, and began chatting ... he explained the environmental impact, or lack of it, in such detail and with such enthusiasm that after about ten minutes or so I began to doubt him completely. In his view, there was no downside to it - that's what turned me off to it. There is always a mix of good and bad anytime we invade nature ... JMHO
