N.D. Cent. Code § 38-12.1-02: Declaration of policy

It is hereby declared to be in the public interest to have persons engaged in coal or commercial leonardite exploration or evaluation report their findings to the office of the state geologist so that data on the location, quantity, and quality of coal or commercial leonardite, and the characteristics of associated material, will be available to assist the state in determining what the attitude of the state should be regarding future development of coal or commercial leonardite resources.