Baucus: Bakken economy deserves national support

By Gazette Staff

Posted: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 6:45 am

The federal government isn’t doing enough to to help Eastern Montana communities keep up with the Bakken oil boom and U.S. Sen. Max Baucus is asking President Barack Obama to do more.

Baucus, in a Tuesday letter to Obama, is asking for a multi-federal agency office in Eastern Montana to help with everything from chewed up streets to sewer and water services in small communities with rapidly increasing populations.

Baucus called Bakken oil development a national interest with burdens that shouldn’t be shouldered by local governments alone.

“The communities of Eastern Montana desperately need clean water, power, roads, sewage treatment, medical services and law enforcement,” Baucus said.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the region and the country that requires a thoughtful, targeted and urgent response. Supporting economic growth in the Bakken region is not only a pressing issue for Montanans, but it is an urgent issue of national interest.

Leaders from Glendive, Sidney, Culbertson and five counties endorsed Baucus’ request, while emphasizing the oil-boom related challenges they’re facing.

The letter comes one week after President Obama’s state of the union speech, in which he said “we need to promote homegrown, American energy.”