BISMARCK (KFGO-AM) - A bill that puts more teeth in a law protecting cemetary's passed the North Dakota Senate on a 24-21 vote. Among other things, the legislation increases penalties for anyone disturbing a burial site.
Main sponsor is Senator Larry Luick of Fairmount who represents a district in the staging area behind a dam used to store water that's part of the F-M Diversion project. He said the measure will protect rural cemetaries containing 3,000 graves south of Fargo that could be flooded by the proposed F-M Diversion project. He said protecting the cemetaries should take priority over anything else.
Senator Judy Lee of West Fargo opposed the bill. She said backers are working on solutions and a mitigation study by NDSU due out in June should provide solutions.
The bill could still be re-considered by the senate and has not yet been scheduled for a hearing in the house.