As oil production from the Bakken formation continues to set records in North Dakota, the sheer pace and scale of the boom is still unfolding. The intensity of industrial activity in western North Dakota translates into mounting concerns about the ability of local and state government to respond to growing infrastructure needs and service demands. After a recent tour of the region, North Dakota state officials announced plans for direct assistance to local governments, along with a promise to revisit how oil tax revenues are shared between the state and local governments. Meanwhile, citizens and local leaders in eastern Montana—where development of the Bakken formation is expected to occur next—are already reporting overwhelming impacts from the activity in North Dakota.