Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory : Pipeline Reclamation Workshop

Followup information from the Workshop will be available online soon.

Click here for the brochure and agenda!

Bringing Everyone Together for Better Results - Tuesday, March 5 - Sidney, MT

See the Program Agenda below.

Rangeland reclamation is no easy task, and the need for more information on how to do it effectively is growing as the number of pipelines criss-crossing the open prairies of eastern Montana and western North Dakota continue to increase with oil and gas development in the Bakken.

To meet that need, a one-day workshop that brings together reclamation researchers, energy company representatives and ranchers and land managers to discuss the best methods for managing pipeline reclamation is planned for Tuesday, March 5th in Sidney, MT.

The all-day workshop runs from 8 am to 4:30 pm, and is being held at the new Montana State University Research and Extension building complex located at 1499 N. Central Avenue in Sidney. Lunch is included.

Presentation topics include: Reclamation Planning, Soil Management and Erosion, Weed and Grazing Management, What and How to Plant, and more. Area ranchers, land managers, and industry representatives will discuss their experiences and best practices in reclamation. (See below for preliminary agenda.)

In addition to the scheduled presentations, workshop attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in informal discussions with presenters throughout the day.

The workshop is being sponsored by the USDA-ARS Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, the Richland County (MT) Extension Office, the Northern Great Plains Section of the Society for Range Management, and the Richland Co. (MT) Conservation District.

There is a $10 registration charge. Attendees will receive lunch and a later mailing of the best practices publication that will be developed from the workshop. Space is limited, so you are encouraged to register early.

For more information, contact: Beth Redlin at 406-433-9427 or beth.redlin@ars.usda.gov or visit http://www.ars.usda.gov/npa/nparl

Program Agenda, March 5th Pipeline Reclamation Workshop, Sidney, MT

Click here for a printable agenda!
Any questions or for more information, contact Beth Redlin at 406-433-9427 or beth.redlin@ars.usda.gov.

8:00-8:15 am

Registration

8:15-8:30 am

Welcome – John Gaskin / Erin Espeland (USDA-ARS, Sidney, MT)

Why We Are Here – Session Leaders: Erin Espeland, Wayne Berry

8:30 am

Session I: Reclamation Science - Session Leader: Erin Espeland

8:30-9:10 am

Reclamation Planning – Peter Stahl (UW, Dir. of Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center)

9:10-9:40 am

Soil Management – Brenda Schladweiler (BKS Environmental)

9:40-10:20 am

Seed Mixes/Selecting Plant Materials – Susan Winslow (USDA-NRCS – Plant Materials Center, Bridger, MT)

10:20-10:55 am

BREAK – Chance to speak informally with presenters

10:55-11:35 am

Planting Methods – Calvin Strom (UW, Asst. Dir.,
Wyoming Reclamation and Restoration Center)

11:35-12:15 pm

Weeds & Grazing Management – Erin Espeland
(USDA-ARS-NPARL, Sidney, MT)

12:15-1:00 pm

LUNCH – Speakers seated at tables throughout the room for informal discussions

1:00-2:00 pm

Session II: Industry Insights - Session Leader: Dick Vande Bossche

Topics: What they do. Rules and Regs. / What’s successful. What’s not /
Issues. Possible Solutions

    Dick Vande Bossche – Director of Operations,
     ONEOK Rockies Midstream LLC

   Jake Pennington – Manager of Construction,
     ONEOK Rockies Midstream LLC

   William McCarthy – E3 Environmental LLC

     Greg Underwood – E3 Environmental LLC

2:00-2:30 pm

BREAK – Chance to speak informally with industry reps and others

2:30-4:00 pm

Session III: Rancher/Land Manager Panel - Session Leader: Wayne Berry

Topics: Experiences / What’s worked. What hasn’t. / Issues. Possible Solutions.

Wayne Berry – Rancher and Panel Moderator

Dick and Connie Iverson – Ranchers

Dennis Trudell – President, NE MT Land and Mineral Owners Assoc.

Dan Benoit – Supervisory Physical Scientist, Miles City Office - BLM

Mike Brand – Director, ND Dept. of Trust Lands

4:00-4:30 pm

Session IV: Final Q & A / Wrap-up - Session Leaders: Erin Espeland and Wayne Berry

General questions / Best practices discussion