PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON

OIL & GAS DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH DAKOTA

METHODOLOGY
A total of 794 live interviews were conducted via cell phones and landlines from Nov. 21-25, 2013. Of those called, 600 were among a representative sample of voters statewide, plus an additional 194 interviews in 19 oil producing counties (for a total of 349 interviews in oil-producing counties). Potential respondents were screened to exclude voters employed by an advertising agency or market research firm.

SURVEY FINDINGS
Nation is headed in the wrong direction
Generally speaking, do you think the United States is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?
Statewide
100% Right direction Wrong direction 80% 68% 60% 60% 65%
60% 80% 76% 100%

Oil Counties
Right direction Wrong direction 70% 71%

65% Statewide

say wrong direction

40% 21%

71% Oil counties

say wrong direction

34% 22%

40% 24% 20% 14% 14%

20%

0%

0%

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2012

Nov. 2013

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2012

Nov. 2013

State is headed in the right direction

And, do you think North Dakota is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?
Statewide
100% 79% 84% Right direction Wrong direction 75% 100% 88% 80% 75%

Oil Counties
Right direction Wrong direction 71%

75% Statewide
say right direction

80%

60%

60%

40%

40% 16% 9% 17%

71% Oil counties

say right direction

20%

13%

12%

14%

20%

0%

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2012

Nov. 2013

0%

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2012

Nov. 2013

Public Perception of Oil Development in North Dakota

Widespread support for oil development in North Dakota

Do you favor or oppose oil development in North Dakota?
Statewide
100% 88% 80% Favor Oppose 83% 80% 100% 86%

Oil Counties
91% Favor Oppose 80%

83% Statewide favor

49% Strongly favor

89%

60%

60%

80% Oil counties favor

50% strongly favor

40%

40%

20% 8% 0% 6% Nov. 2012

8%

20%

10%

5% Nov. 2012

11%

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2013

0%

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2013

Benefits of oil development outweigh risks

Do you agree or disagree that the benefits of oil development outweigh the risks?
Statewide
100% Agree Disagree 73% 100%

Oil Counties
Agree Disagree

73% 72%

Statewide agree Oil counties agree

80%

71%

72%

80% 67% 60%

72%

72%

60%

40% 22% 22% 19%

40% 26% 20% 23% 20%

20%

0%

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2012

Nov. 2013

0%

Nov. 2011

Nov. 2012

Nov. 2013

Wide majority wants to maintain or increase production

Do you think there should be more oil and natural gas production in the state, the same amount, or less?
80% Statewide Oil Counties 60% 53% 50%

83% statewide & 82% in oil counties

think production should increase or stay the same.
2

40%

30% 32% 12% 14% 5% 4%

20%

0%

For the full study results, visit www.ndoil.org

More

Same

Less

Don't know

Public Perception of Oil Development in North Dakota

State regulations on oil and gas are about right

Would you say the state regulations on oil and natural gas development are?

55% statewide
say about right
Statewide
Too harsh
3% 4% 4% 28% 26% 26% 2013 2012 2011

59% in oil counties

say about right
Oil Counties
Too harsh
4% 4% 3% 25% 23% 28% 2013 2012 2011

Too lax

Too lax

About right

55% 61% 57% 14% 9% 14% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

About right

59% 67% 57% 13% 6% 12% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Don't know

Don't know

More than half support current oil and gas production levels despite flaring
Which one of the following statements comes closest to your view? Flaring is a waste of a valuable energy resource. I support reducing oil development and the amount of oil produced in order to reduce flaring until natural gas infrastructure catches up. I believe natural gas infrastructure is being improved to reduce flaring and I support keeping oil development at current levels to keep more jobs for North Dakota and a strong state economy?

OR

80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Statewide Oil Counties

55% 34% 35%

56%

11%

9% Keep current levels

Reduce oil production/flaring

Don't know

Public Perception of Oil Development in North Dakota

Social issues & infrastructure remain primary concerns

Which one of the following concerns you most about oil and natural gas development in North Dakota?
Crime Oil spills and pipeline safety Roads and infrastructure Traffic Housing Hydraulic fracturing or fracking Flood protection and water issues Flaring Drilling waste Dont know 0% 9% 8% 6% 6% 5% 3% 5% 3% 3% 2% 5% 7% 10% 20% 30% 40% 12% 7% 14% 14% 18% 23% 27% Statewide Oil Counties

16%

Majority do not blame oil industry for decrease in wildlife

As you may know, some wildlife populations in North Dakota have declined in recent years. Here are two views on this issue, we will call them Smith and Jones.Smith blames the oil and natural gas industry for the decline, saying that as oil and natural gas well sites and roads to these sites continue to be built, some wildlife is being pushed away from its prime habitat and food sources.Jones says the oil and natural gas industry is not the cause but blames the decline in some wildlife populations on declining acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP and three brutal winters starting in 2008.Which view comes closest to your own?
Statewide
80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Oil Counties

59%

60%

27%

23%

13%

17%

Smith/oil and natural gas industry

Don't know

Jones/decreasing acreage and winters

Public Perception of Oil Development in North Dakota

There is a lack of consensus on oil tax spending

Here are two views about oil production taxes, we will call them Smith and Jones: Smith says that the $240 million dollars per month paid by the oil and natural gas industry is helping people in the state by funding our schools, reducing our property taxes and providing flood relief. Jones says the $240 million dollars isnt being spent in a way that helps the average North Dakotan. Which view comes closest to your own?
80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

Statewide Oil Counties 48%

43%

39%

44%

12%

13%

Smith/helping people

Don't know

Jones/not helping

Oil counties prioritize roads spending & statewide prioritizes schools & roads
The oil and natural gas industry pays $240 million per month in oil production taxes to the state. Which one of the following would you most like to see that money spent on?
Schools and education Road and highway improvements Reducing property taxes Law enforcement Housing Wildlife conservation and parks Flood protection 0% 6% 7% 5% 5% 3% 2% 2% 1% 10% 20% 30% 40% 20% 16% 21% 29% 26% Statewide Oil Counties 37%

Public Perception of Oil Development in North Dakota

State taxes on oil and gas are about right

Would you say the state taxes on oil and natural gas development are?

60% statewide say

about right or too high
Statewide
Too high
12% 12% 13% 19% 14% 20% 2013 2012 2011

66% statewide say

about right or too high
Oil Counties
Too high
14% 13% 12% 16% 14% 21% 2013 2012 2011

Too low

Too low

About right

48% 59% 46% 21% 16% 22% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

About right

52% 60% 44% 18% 13% 23% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Don't know

Don't know

A majority supports tax credits for industry to help with impacts

Would you support allowing oil and natural gas companies to receive tax credits to invest in the following, or not?
Statewide Oil Counties Helping communities in western North Dakota repair roads and improve infrastructure New technologies to reduce environmental impact, such as reducing water usage, controlling dust and responsible disposal New technologies and pipeline infrastructure to help reduce flaring of natural gas No/I dont support giving them tax credits 0% 16% 13% 20% 40% 60% 80% 59% 56% 58% 54% 70% 71%