§ 38-18-02 — Legislative findings

1. The legislative assembly finds that it is necessary to exercise the police power of the
state as described in this chapter to protect the public welfare of North Dakota which is
largely dependent on agriculture and to protect the economic well-being of individuals
engaged in agricultural production. This finding recognizes that the people of North
Dakota desire to retain a strong agricultural economy and that North Dakota currently
produces three percent of the food for the entire nation.
2. Furthermore, the legislative assembly finds that there is an abundance of minerals in
North Dakota which can be used for the production of electricity, synthetic natural gas,
and other forms of energy, and that energy produced from North Dakota minerals is
needed by the nation and North Dakota is capable of producing up to two and one-half
percent of the nation's energy needs if the minerals found here are fully developed.
3. The legislative assembly further finds that mining development may temporarily
interfere with portions of the agricultural economy.