A bill to consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes.

Referred to Subcommittee on Forests and Public Lands.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 30, 1996

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the Burlington Resources Oil and Gas Company (formerly known as Meridian Oil Inc.) all Federal rights and interests identified on a map entitled the "Billings County, North Dakota, Consolidated Mineral Exchange--November 1995," contingent on Burlington's conveyance to the Secretary of title to its own rights and interests identified on the same map. Directs the Secretary to convey to owners of the remaining non-oil gas mineral interests identified on the map all Federal rights, title, and interests in the National Forest System lands and National Grasslands in the State of North Dakota, contingent on the owners' conveyance to the Secretary, after Burlington's conveyance, of all their rights, title, and interests. Directs the Secretary to grant to Burlington the use of federally-owned surface lands to explore for and develop interests conveyed to Burlington under this Act.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND] · D–ND

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Conrad, Kent [D-ND]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Oct 1, 1996
Referred to Subcommittee on Forests and Public Lands.
Sep 30, 1996
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Sep 30, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11996-11998)
Sep 30, 1996
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Sep 30, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.2182 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2182, 104th Congress: A bill to consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/2182

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s2182/BILLS-104s2182is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.2182 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.2182 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2182, 104th Congress: A bill to consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/2182

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s2182/BILLS-104s2182is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2182 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.2182 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2182, 104th Congress: A bill to consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/2182

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s2182/BILLS-104s2182is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2182 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.2182 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.2182, 104th Congress: A bill to consolidate certain mineral interests in the National Grasslands in Billings County, North Dakota, through the exchange of Federal and private mineral interests to enhance land management capabilities and environmental and wildlife protection, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/2182

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1996-09-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s2182/BILLS-104s2182is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:13:37Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.2182 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.