Slawson Exploration Co., an exploration/production (E&P) operator in the Bakken Shale play, reached a settlement Thursday with the Obama administration regarding alleged Clean Air Actviolations in North Dakota, including on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Slawson was accused by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice of failing to adequately control emissions on its E&P and storage operations at approximately 170 oil/natural gas well pads in North Dakota. The settlement resolves claims that Slawson’s operations caused emissions of volatile organic compounds. As a result of the settlement, Slawson will spend an estimated $4.1 million for systems upgrades, monitoring and inspections. The total includes $2.1 million in civil penalties and another $2 million in environmental mitigation projects.