Air Quality Monitoring Project on Fort Berthold Reservation

Representative Lisa Finley-DeVille shares information about the Air Quality Monitoring Project to assess and analyze data concerning air quality

I am proud to share details of the initiation of the ambitious Air Quality Monitoring Project aimed at safeguarding the health and environment of Fort Berthold reservation communities. The air monitors were installed in June 2023. Recognizing the importance of sustainable practices and the well-being of residents living near oil fields, this project is driven by our commitment to fostering a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future. And it could not have been completed without the hard work and dedication of the small group of committed individuals who worked to find resources and share their expertise in understanding how pollution affects us all.

The primary objective of this project is to implement a comprehensive air quality monitoring system that provides real-time data on air pollutants in and around our communities. By employing cutting-edge technologies, we hope to assess air quality accurately, identify potential risks, and work to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment and human health.

I want to thank the REAMP Network for making the air monitoring project possible on the Fort Berthold reservation. Dakota Resource Council has been a long-time member of REAMP, as the REAMP Network works to set collective strategies and enable collaboration on climate solutions in the Midwest. Members of the REAMP Network visited the Fort Berthold reservation and participated in a “toxic tour” from the coal fields around Beulah to the oil fields of the Fort Berthold reservation and the Bakken.

The project came to fruition within a REAMP Action Team at the end of 2022. The need for air quality monitoring has been long discussed between members of Fort Berthold Protectors of Water & Earth Rights and our partner organization Dakota Resource Council. We needed to find a way to monitor the air on the Fort Berthold reservation since we have been immersed in oil extraction since 2009.

The decision was made early this year that air monitors on the Fort Berthold reservation would be the best way to go. As an Action Team, we discussed what would be the best options for monitors and how many we would like to install. Working alongside other frontline community members and organizations from southwest Detroit, we collectively agreed that we wanted to build relationships across affected communities and bring our teams together to learn and share our experiences of living with industrial pollution.

I also want to thank Dakota Resource Council organizer Liz Anderson and Executive Director Scott Skokos, who worked tirelessly to create a budget and fundraise on behalf of Fort Berthold POWER. Their collective efforts gave us funding to initially purchase several monitors that were strategically placed throughout the Fort Berthold reservation.  DRC connected with the Ecology Center, which loaned us their ozone monitor, which is being housed at Nueta, Hidatsa, Sanish Community College.

Because we could only afford one SPOD monitor (which monitors and reports in real-time AND has two canisters, one large which steadily draws a sample over seven days and a smaller canister that is triggered when the air is particularly bad and takes a quick sample) Jeff from Ecology Center contacted Colorado State University who will work with us to analyze the contents once we collect enough samples. At the end of our 3-month pilot study, we will work together to gather the results so we can utilize them for education and to push decision-makers for stronger rules.

Jeff drove all the way from Michigan to deliver the equipment, and he and Liz, with the help of Delvin Rabbit Head, installed monitors. Jeff stayed for a week; the other folks from the Action Team came out for three days to witness the beginning of the project.

As a part of our commitment to collaboration and sharing experiences, members of POWER will travel to Detroit in October to see what oil and gas looks like in southwest Detroit and attend the REAMP annual meeting.

I would like to thank Dr. Hartman at NHSC, who worked to let us use the college as a host site. Dr. Hartman let us use a classroom for our air monitor program training, and was excited to learn about the grassroots efforts to build a project of this magnitude.

This project reflects our dedication to responsible environmental stewardship, public health, and community empowerment. By leveraging advanced technologies and fostering collaboration, we aim to create a model for sustainable development in the Fort Berthold reservation while enhancing the well-being of residents in proximity to oil fields. Through transparency, real-time data access, and community engagement, we aspire to build a brighter and healthier future for all.

Thank you, Dakota Resource Council, the REAMP Network, the Ecology Center, Colorado State University, my fellow members of Fort Berthold Protectors of Water & Earth Rights, and the people who agreed to install an air monitor on their property on Fort Berthold reservation for making this much-needed air monitoring project a reality. This project is not merely a one-time endeavor but an ongoing commitment. We will continuously assess and analyze the collected data to identify trends, patterns, and emerging issues. These insights will guide us in developing targeted initiatives to address specific challenges, reduce emissions, and improve overall air quality in the region. We need to know what we are breathing in as we continue to live with oil and gas here on the Fort Berthold reservation.

Lastly, we are working to get more funding for more monitors. If you are interested in placing a monitor on your house/property, reach out to myself, DRC, or Delvin. If we are able to get more monitors, we will let you know.

Thank you,

Representative Lisa Finley-DeVille