September 1 is the deadline for Bakken region “man camps” to shut down in Williston, North Dakota. The Williston City Commission gave final approval to an ordinance eliminating the temporary camps for oilfield workers. Operators can seek permission to reopen the man camps if the oil and gas industry goes full throttle again.
Many of the temporary housing camps closed prior to the original deadline of July 1. Companies will be given two years to clean up the sites.
“The man camp industry should understand we allowed them to come here on a temporary basis,” said Howard Klug, Williston’s mayor.
Oil industry leaders indicate some of the man camps are still needed for rotational workers despite the addition of new apartments and hotels in the area. Temporary housing companies insist that eliminating the man camps could produce layoffs and cuts to philanthropic donations to schools, churches and community groups in the Williston area.
“The company still relies on temporary housing for rotating crews that are needed to support our customers’ activity,” said Susie McMichael, Halliburton spokeswoman.
The subject is being litigated in the U.S. District Court in Bismarck brought by Target Logistics, Lodging Solutions and Halliburton, workforce housing companies challenging Williston’s elimination of the man camps. The next hearing in the court case is a scheduling conference set for September 19.
The Williston City Commission indicated that owners of the man camps may bring proposals to the city to repurpose their facilities for hotels or a different use.