Latest news with #Moch
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health agencies scramble as North Dakota loses federal grants
Pam Sagness, executive director of Behavioral Health Division for North Dakota Health and Human Services, speaks during a meeting of the Budget Section, Human Resources Division, on Sept. 18, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Some North Dakota health agencies are trying to adjust to the sudden loss of federal funding. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services learned last week it lost about $3.2 million in federal funding for substance-use treatment and mental health programs after block grants were rescinded by a federal agency. In an evening email on March 24, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration told HHS that the COVID-19 pandemic-era grants were taken back in accordance with President Donald Trump's executive order empowering the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency to cut costs. 'These grants were issued for a limited purpose: To ameliorate the effects of the pandemic,' the email stated. 'The end of the pandemic provides cause to terminate COVID-related grants. Now that the pandemic is over, the grants are no longer necessary. The grants were scheduled to expire Sept. 30. Pam Sagness, executive director for the Behavioral Health Division for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in 2021 the department received the five block grants to target substance abuse prevention, treatment and mental health programming totaling about $9.5 million. The funding for these grants came from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Renae Moch, public health director for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, said the organization received $115,000 from HHS to develop plans for a 24/7, 365-day facility to focus on crisis response, mental health and addiction services, rather than treating patients in an emergency room. 'How we were notified and how this kind of went down has just been unbelievable,' Moch said. She said she received a general notification from HHS last Tuesday morning that their block grant funding was going to be impacted, but she was still unclear about what that meant and what funding was being rescinded. She got a call back about 4:30 p.m. from the department, 45 minutes before she was to present and hopefully award funding from the grant during a Bismarck City Commission meeting. 'I had to kind of refocus and compose myself before going up to the meeting at 5:15 p.m.,' Moch said. The presentation and contract award were pulled from the agenda. Sagness said 42 grantees statewide will lose federal funding. 'Our focus now is on ensuring that services continue by identifying alternative funding and working with providers to minimize disruptions,' Sagness said in a statement. 'It's important for North Dakotans to know that support remains in place. Anyone struggling should continue to reach out for help, including through (calling) 988 or their local behavioral health provider.' The department received notice the grants were being terminated the day the funding was rescinded, Sagness said. Holly Scott, a spokesperson for Fargo Cass Public Health, said its state partners confirmed that its funding for social detox center operations will run out after September. 'Our leadership team is currently working to determine the impacts of these changes, while also reviewing alternate sources of funding to assure long-term sustainability,' Scott said in an email. Other organizations impacted by the loss of block grant funding: Connect Us Therapy, Williston – $50,000 for crisis response and law enforcement mental health support Corner Post Counseling, Mandan – $30,000 for crisis response and law enforcement mental health support Public Health & Tribes, 23 contracts – $200,000 for substance-use prevention Flint Communications, Fargo – $824,951 for Parents Lead, opioid messaging initiatives and marketing statewide BeMoreColorful, Fargo – $160,000 for behavioral health workforce tools 'All of the planning and all of the work that has gone into it and now, here we are,' Moch said. She said they don't want to abandon the project, but the organization is going to have to come up with alternate funding sources. 'We will be losing months,' Moch said. She's also hopeful a new grant or funding source can be identified before the city and county begin their budget discussions over the summer. Agriculture research loses momentum with federal payments uncertain Separate federal funding through the Health Equity Immunization Grant was also rescinded for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, she said. That funding impacted the organization's ability to provide free COVID-19 tests and a portion of the salary for a vaccine specialist. 'It's all related to the same decision,' Moch said. She added that arguments about the pandemic being over and the funding not being needed don't hold water because they are still working through the impacts of COVID-19. That funding was supposed to continue until 2026, Moch said. 'The abrupt impacts on us at the local level is what is just so unexpected and so we're just really trying to scramble now because there was no notice,' she said. In an interview with the North Dakota Monitor, Gov. Kelly Armstrong said the COVID-19 pandemic has been over for three years, but he has been in contact with HHS to get a handle on the impacts to state health providers. 'I'm glad it happened during the legislative session so we can figure out how we readjust our budget and figure out how to finish off the session,' Armstrong said. In a news release, the Department of Health and Human Services said it was evaluating funding options for the loss in federal block grants and will collaborate with other state agencies, organizations and private partners to address priority areas. The department said it will provide updates as more information becomes available. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Landowners, energy industry at odds over bills limiting CO2 pipelines in North Dakota
David Moch of Hazelton testifies Jan. 30, 2025, on a bill related to carbon dioxide pipelines. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) David Moch signed an easement agreement with Summit Carbon Solution allowing the carbon capture project developer to put a pipeline through his land, but he said signed only because of the threat of eminent domain — a court ordering him to provide a right-of-way for the pipeline. Moch, of Hazelton, said he spent $9,600 on a lawyer to ensure he had the strongest agreement possible, but he is still opposed to the pipeline and its potential use of eminent domain. Moch was among those who testified Thursday in favor of bills that limit the ability of Summit and other carbon pipeline developers to use eminent domain. Carbon pipeline bills set for hearings in North Dakota this week Summit Carbon Solutions is an Iowa-based company seeking to build a $9 billion five-state network of pipelines capturing CO2 emissions from ethanol plants. Summit's pipeline would send the CO2 for permanent underground storage in western North Dakota. Summit Carbon Solutions officials and representatives from the ethanol, coal and oil and gas industries testified against the bills. 'This will disqualify current projects in development and immediately stop the investment in the North Dakota CO2 industry,' said Charlie Adams, manager of agriculture and stakeholder relations with Summit. Several opponents of the bills pointed to a study by the North Dakota tax commissioner projecting the tax revenue that could come from oil production if enhanced oil recovery — using carbon dioxide to force more oil out of wells — were adopted in North Dakota. David Nehring, who also works as manager of agriculture and stakeholder relations with Summit, said Summit has not been approached about using its CO2 for enhanced oil recovery but could be in the future. 'I would like to see it be used in the Bakken for EOR,' he said. Summit's pipeline permit in North Dakota specifies that the carbon dioxide be stored permanently. Moch and Nehring testified on House Bill 1292 that strips common carrier status from carbon pipelines. Being a common carrier pipeline — transporting goods for hire — is a factor in pursuing eminent domain. Two other bills heard Thursday, Senate Bill 2322 and House Bill 1414, would also strip common carrier status from carbon dioxide pipelines and more specifically state that eminent domain could not be used for carbon pipelines. Adams testified that Summit has signed about 85% of landowners to voluntary easement agreements. Frances Robinson of Emmons County said Summit bullied landowners with the threat of eminent domain to obtain easements. 'If they tried the same tactics now, there would be a very different result,' she testified. Study pegs potential $9 billion tax impact for CO2 in North Dakota oil wells Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, the sponsor of the Senate bill, argued that it is too easy to claim common carrier status in North Dakota and that the only way to show a company like Summit is not a common carrier is to take the company to court, which is expensive for landowners. He also cited a South Dakota Supreme Court ruling that said Summit has not shown that it is a common carrier. Ron Ness, executive director of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said the bills are not just about the Summit project but other pipelines yet to be planned that could carry carbon dioxide to North Dakota oil wells. 'What are we going to need in two years, five years, 10 years down the road?' Ness asked. 'It's going to take a lot of gas to supercharge the Bakken.' Zach Cassidy of the Dakota Resource Council, an environmental group, was among those who questioned the safety of such a large high-pressure hazardous materials pipeline. 'People's lives are potentially at risk,' Cassidy said. 'It should be their choice whether or not to take that risk for their family, for the paycheck that they get.' No action was taken on the bills, which represent just a few related to carbon capture. Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, and House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, on Thursday issued a news release supporting carbon pipelines. 'Our baseload coal industry must capture and store its CO2 to stay viable. Our corn and ethanol industries must access low-carbon fuels markets to stay competitive and keep the internal combustion engine competitive,' Hogue said. Also Thursday, the House voted 86-7 to advance House Bill 1258, which gives the state authority over setback rules for electric transmission lines, similar to the rules for pipeline regulation. The bill goes to the Senate for further consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
