Legislators Want to Continue Study of Crew Camps - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Legislators Want to Continue Study of Crew Camps

North Dakota lawmakers say they need to continue a study that looks at issues related to group housing.

The study looked at infrastructure demands, health and safety requirements, regulation and enforcement of crew camps.

Bismarck Representative Larry Klemin says the needs associated with crew camps and other temporary housing is a growing concern for cities and counties.

The amount of group housing facilities has grown significantly due to the lack of permanent housing.

Officials estimate there are about 30,000 people living in crew camps and RV camps in western North Dakota.

Klemin says, "Some of the issues we heard were if they get a 9-1-1 call to a crew camp that has several thousand people in it, how are they going to find that person because that particular place where that call came from may not be numbered or identified. There are a number of things we found that were issues that haven't been resolved."

The North Dakota Health Department says all crew camps and RV camps are licensed and inspected by the state health department.