Temporary towns being built to meet oil boom demand in western North Dakota

"Man camps" are dotting the prairie of western North Dakota, where an oil boom has created thousands of vacancies being filled by an "overwhelmingly male workforce," fueled by the poor economy, reports A.G. Sulzberger of The New York Times. Camps help the state deal with the problem of too many jobs and not enough empty beds. However, towns are starting to deny applications to build camps because, despite the wealth they bring, they symbolize "growing too big too fast, cluttering formerly idyllic vistas, straining utilities, overburdening emergency services and aggravating traffic jams, long lines and higher crime." (NYT map)

Local leaders say they can't keep up with demand, and in some places have instituted moratoriums on building new camps. Sulzberger reports they will use this time to "draft new fees for the camps to support fire and ambulance services; write tighter rules, like background checks, for residents in these facilities; and require performance bonds to ensure that the modular buildings aren’t simply abandoned whenever the boom turns bust." Brian Lash, chief executive of Target Logistics, the largest man-camp operator in North Dakota, told Sulzberger Target's camps maintain "strict prohibitions on alcohol, firearms and unauthorized women." If someone breaks these rules, they are evicted and almost always fired from the drilling company. Lash said officials are simply trying to establish necessary regulations.

The region was desperate for economic development five years ago, Sulzberger reports, and let oil companies have free rein as a result. Police and building inspectors say they haven't seen problems out of most camps, with some exceptions. One camp was shut down after raw sewage was found flowing on the property, while fights have happened at others. Unauthorized camps are also an issue. Camp owners have responded by drilling their own water supply and building their own sewage treatment plants. Officials say the moratorium will be lifted when capacity for sewer, water, electric, roads and law enforcement are increased. (Read more)