BISMARCK (AP) -- A proposed independent mediation board for disputes between oil companies and landowners has been defeated in the North Dakota Senate.
Ryder Sen. John Warner said the measure was needed to referee problems that happen when oil drillers come on a surface owner's property.
Surface landowners often do not benefit from oil exploration. But even then, they have to give oil producers access to their land, so they can drill.
Senators voted 32-14 on Tuesday to defeat the proposal. Opponents said there are other ways to work out problems between surface landowners and oil producers.
