GRAND FORKS — More than seven months after the North Dakota Legislature voted to establish military impact zones, the process is moving forward as compatibility committees are being created.

Senate Bill 2398 passed during this year’s legislative session. Its purpose is to create impact zones around military installations and form committees that will help oversee any potential development in those zones to avoid detrimental impacts on military operations.

“The underlying issue with it was we wanted to make sure that our military people have the ability to execute the mission that they’re responsible to execute,” said state Sen. Jeff Barta, R-Grand Forks, the bill's main sponsor.

There’s still work to be done, he said. Most efforts right now are concentrated on Grand Forks Air Force Base

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