North Dakota Law Accidentally Lists Fake Critical Minerals Based on Coal Lawyers’ Names

 David Straley, attorney for North American Coal. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – A landmark North Dakota law approved this year accidentally lumped in two fake names in a list of critical minerals that appear to be inspired by coal company lawyers who worked on the bill.

The inclusion of fictional substances is being called an embarrassment by one state official, a possible practical joke by coal industry leaders and mystifying by the lawmakers who worked on the bill.

The fake minerals are friezium and stralium, apparent references to Christopher Friez and David Straley, attorneys for North American Coal who were closely involved in drafting the bill and its amendments. Straley said they were not responsible for adding the fake names.

“I assume it was put in to embarrass us, or to make light of it, or have a practical joke,” Straley said, adding it could have been a clerical error.

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