Get reliable rangeland science

North American rangelands have a long history of energy exploration and extraction activities that require active reclamation to restore ecosystem properties and functions. Among all energy industries, early reclamation efforts were minimal or non-existent, leaving scars on the landscapes still present today. With increased awareness and demand and technologies, reclamation efforts and success have improved over time. However, not all reclamation efforts and success among energy industries has progresses at the same rate and a strong dichotomy exists between the oil and gas and surface coal industries. Largely as a result from public demand, Federal legislation, specifically the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, regulates the surface coal industry to both ensure future mining activities are conducted in an environmental sound manner and to provide resources to reclaim abandoned mines. Individual states are required to develop and enforce reclamation standards appropriate for their region. While the outcomes are not perfect and improvements are continually necessary, more than 11,000 ha of coal-mine land has gone through the permitting and bond-release process in North Dakota with approximately 800 new hectares annually among four mines. In contrast, there are combined active and inactive oil and gas wells occupying almost 33,000 ha, 2,600 ha impacted by spills with an additional land dedicated to access roads, pipelines and storage facilities. Reclamation mitigation recommendations are being discussed and investigated. However, current reclamation efforts and standards are left to the discretion of individual companies and contractors with varying success. Without overarching standards to direct reclamation, similar to the coal industry, reclamation following oil and gas exploration and extraction will continue to be marginally successful.