Document:

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                                                                 Exhibit 10-I-5

                   AGREEMENT AND CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT OF THE
                           COYOTE PLANT COAL AGREEMENT

         WHEREAS, Northern Municipal Power Agency, by and through its agent and
representative for the Coyote Coal Plant, Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.;
Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.; Northwestern Public Service Company; and Otter
Tail Power Company (collectively "Buyers") are parties to the Coyote Plant Coal
Agreement ("Agreement") between the Buyers and Knife River Corporation,
successor-in-interest to Knife River Coal Mining Company ("Knife River"), dated
January 1, 1978;

         WHEREAS, Knife River has agreed to sell substantially all of the assets
related to its coal operations, including the Agreement, to Dakota Westmoreland
Corporation ("Dakota"), formerly Westmoreland-Knife River Acquisition Corp., and
to WCCO-KRC Acquisition Corp., subsidiaries of Westmoreland Mining LLC ("WML"),
a limited liability company, wholly owned by Westmoreland Coal Company
("Westmoreland"), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated September 27,
2000 between Knife River and Dakota;

         WHEREAS, Section 14.8 of the Agreement provides that the Agreement may
not be assigned by Knife River, as Seller, without the consent of Buyers, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, except that no consent is required
in the event of, among other things, transfer to a successor in interest, by
merger, consolidation, sale and transfer, or otherwise, acquiring all or
substantially all of the assets and business of Seller, specifically including
its coal leases;

         WHEREAS, the Buyers have raised certain concerns regarding the effect
of assignment on the price of coal under the Agreement, which Dakota has agreed
to address;

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises contained
herein, the Buyers, and Dakota hereby agree as follows:

1.       Consent to Assignment

         The Buyers, pursuant to Section 14.8 of the Agreement, consent to the
assignment of the Agreement, the Addendum, and all Amendments, with all existing
rights, duties and obligations, by Knife River to Dakota, effective upon the
closing of the sale and transfer by Knife River of substantially all the assets
related to its coal operations to Dakota pursuant to the Asset Purchase
Agreement dated September 27, 2000 between Knife River and Dakota.

2.       Protection of the Buyers

         Dakota covenants that the acquisition and financing costs associated
with the Asset Purchase Agreement dated September 27, 2000 between Dakota and
Knife River will not be used to increase the coal price under Section 7 of the
Agreement or to affect the calculation and invocation of Profit Limits Imposed
on Seller under Section 8 of the Agreement. This covenant includes the
following:

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         a.   There shall be no increase in pension costs due to the transfer of
              pension funds, assets or liabilities from Knife River to Dakota.

         b.   There shall be no increase in the business, plant and equipment
              tax, permit, bond and insurance costs related to an increase in
              asset book values (either as determined under Generally Accepted
              Accounting Principles or tax regulations), as a result of the sale
              of substantially all of the assets related to Knife River's coal
              operations to Dakota.

         c.   There shall be no increase in the coal severance taxes and federal
              reclamation fees, taxes or charges related to an increase in asset
              book values (either as determined under Generally Accepted
              Accounting Principles or tax regulations), as a result of the sale
              of substantially all of the assets related to Knife River's coal
              operations to Dakota.

         d.   There shall be no increase in special studies costs for any
              special studies that may have been required to facilitate the sale
              of substantially all of the assets related to Knife River's coal
              operations to Dakota.

         e.   There shall be no increase in depreciation costs related to an
              increase in asset book values, as a result of the sale of
              substantially all of the assets related to Knife River's coal
              operations to Dakota.

         f.   There shall be no increase in interest costs related to Dakota's
              financing of its purchase of substantially all of the assets
              related to Knife River's coal operations.

The omission of any cost factor related to an increase in asset book values set
forth in Sections 7 or 8 of the Agreement from this Section 2 of the "Agreement
and Consent to Assignment" is not intended to exclude from Dakota's covenant
increases in those cost factors attributable to Dakota's acquisition; provided,
however that the provisions of this Agreement relate only to the assets acquired
from Knife River and the costs of acquiring and financing Dakota's acquisition
of the Knife River assets. The parties hereto expressly acknowledge that, in all
other respects, prices shall be determined pursuant to the terms of the
Agreement.

                                     NORTHERN MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY, by
                                     and through its agent and representative
                                     for the Coyote Coal Plant, MINNKOTA POWER
                                     COOPEATIVE, INC.

Date: 4/25/01                        By: /s/ David Loer
------------------------                 ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title: President and CEO

                                     MONTANA-DAKOTA UTILITIES CO., a division
                                     of MDU Resources Group, Inc.

Date: 4/26/01                        By: /s/ Bruce Imsdahl
------------------------                 ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  BRUCE IMSDAHL
                                         Title: VICE PRESIDENT ENERGY SUPPLY

<PAGE>

                                     NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE, a division of
                                     NorthWestern Corporation

Date:                                By: /s/ Michael J. Hanson
------------------------                 ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Michael J. Hanson
                                         Title: President & CEO

                                     OTTER TAIL CORPORATION

Date:    5/16/01                     By: /s/ Ward Uggerud
------------------------                 ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Ward Uggerud
                                         Title: Chief Operating Officer,
                                                Energy Supply

                                     DAKOTA WESTMORELAND CORPORATION

Date:    7/9/01                      By: /s/ John V. O'Laughlin
------------------------                 ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  John V. O'Laughlin
                                         Title: President<PAGE>
                                                                  Exhibit 10-N-8

                               EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
                                    (RENEWAL)

Reference is made to an Employment Contract dated January 1, 1995 (attached as
Exhibit "A") (the "Contract").

With the following amendments or additions, the Contract is hereby renewed on
the same terms and conditions:

Term:                                    No specific term. Employment continues
                                         until terminated by Employer or
                                         Employee upon 30 days written notice by
                                         either party.

Termination:                             Termination can be made by Employer for
                                         any reason and without cause. Employee
                                         may terminate for any reason, including
                                         Reasonable Cause (as defined in the
                                         Contract).

Title:                                   President & Chief Operating Officer

Fringe Benefits:                         Standard Employer benefits for full
                                         time exempt employees, plus paid family
                                         health insurance. Nothing in this
                                         Contract shall prevent or limit
                                         Employee's participation in any
                                         benefit, bonus, incentive or other
                                         plans, including any supplemental
                                         executive retirement plan or stock
                                         option plan.

Auto Allowance:                          $800 per month, plus reimbursement for
                                         all business miles, including travel
                                         between Fargo and Fergus Falls (new
                                         rate to be effective May 1, 1999).

Salary:                                  $148,472.50, plus annual increases of
                                         10% for each of the next five
                                         consecutive years. Annual increases
                                         thereafter to be determined by the
                                         parties.

Incentive Bonus:                         Formula to be determined.

Severance:                               In the event that (i) the Employer
                                         terminates the Contract for any reason
                                         (including for cause, death or
                                         disability) or (ii) Employee terminates
                                         the Contract for Reasonable Cause (as
                                         defined in the

                                        1
<PAGE>
                                         attached Contract), Employee shall
                                         receive the base salary then in effect
                                         through the date of termination and a
                                         severance payment equal to all
                                         compensation (base salary, incentive
                                         bonus, etc.) paid to Employee in the
                                         most recent full calendar year from the
                                         date of termination (for example, if
                                         the date of termination is July 1,
                                         1999, the most recent calendar year
                                         would be 1998) multiplied by one and
                                         one-half (1 1/2). If the Employee
                                         terminates the Contract without
                                         Reasonable Cause or if the reason for
                                         termination by Employer of the Contract
                                         is an act of embezzlement or other
                                         willful misconduct materially injurious
                                         to the Employer, no severance payment
                                         shall be made to Employee. In the case
                                         of a dispute concerning whether the
                                         severance payment should be paid and if
                                         the Employee established that he is
                                         legally entitled to payment of a
                                         severance payment, Employee shall be
                                         entitled to recover from Employer any
                                         costs incurred by Employee in obtaining
                                         payment of the severance payment from
                                         Employer (including Employee's
                                         attorneys fees and court costs). The
                                         severance payment shall be made within
                                         30 days from the date of termination
                                         and shall be subject to normal payroll
                                         withholdings and deductions. This
                                         contract is made in the State of
                                         Minnesota and shall be governed by and
                                         construed in accordance with the
                                         substantive laws of the State of
                                         Minnesota.

Dated:  As of January 1, 1999            Varistar Corporation

                                         By   /s/ N. Bruce Thom
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Its Chm of the Board & C.E.O.
                                           -------------------------------

Dated:  As of January 1, 1999            /s/ Lauris N. Molbert
                                         --------------------------------
                                         Lauris N. Molbert

                                        2
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
                            EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT TERMS
                            (EFFECTIVE AS OF 1/1/95)

Employee:                                Lauris N. Molbert

Employer:                                Mid-States Development, Inc.

Title:                                   President

Duties:                                  Determined by Board of Directors (BOD)

Direct Supervisor:                       Chair of BOD

Office Location:                         Primarily Fargo, with secondary office
                                         in Fergus Falls

Base Salary:                             $100,000 annually, with 10% increase
                                         each year of term

Incentive Salary:                        Formula to be determined, but not less
                                         than $25,000 annually with 10% increase
                                         each year of term

Fringe Benefits:                         Same as other Mid-States employees,
                                         including paid family health insurance

Auto Allowance:                          $700 per month, plus reimbursement for
                                         business mileage except for travel
                                         between Fargo and Fergus Falls

CLE & CPE                                Allowance of $5,000 per year for
                                         travel, registration, lodging, etc. in
                                         connection with continuing education
                                         qualifying for legal and CPA licenses

Vacations:                               4 weeks paid per year

Outside Interests:                       Employee is permitted to devote time to
                                         consulting director and ownership
                                         interests in connection with the Bank
                                         of Steele and related companies or
                                         interest. Additionally, Employee may
                                         use administrative staff for
                                         secretarial duties in connection with
                                         such outside interest. Time devoted to
                                         such interests may occur during normal
                                         working hours.

Severance:                               If Employee should be terminated by
                                         Employer for any reason (including for
                                         just cause) or Employee shall elect to
                                         resign from employment for Reasonable
                                         Cause (defined below), Employer shall
                                         immediately pay to Employee the amount
                                         of $125,000 in full payment and release
                                         of any and all future obligations of
                                         Employee or Employer. "Reasonable
                                         Cause" shall mean any of the following:
                                         (i) the duties, responsibilities, or
                                         titles of the Employee shall be
                                         material modified, (ii) the principal
                                         office location for Employee shall be
                                         moved from Fargo, (iii) the Employee's
                                         direct supervisor shall change, (iv)
                                         all or substantially all of the
                                         assets of the Employer are sold or
                                         transferred, or 50% or more of the
                                         equity interests in the Employer are
                                         transferred in one or more
                                         transactions; (iv) the Employer and
                                         Employee shall be unable to agree for
                                         any reason to extend the expiration
                                         date of this employment contract prior
                                         to the commencement of the final year
                                         of the original five year term, or (v)
                                         any material term or condition of this
                                         contract is altered or breached by the
                                         Employer without the consent of the
                                         Employee.

Term:                                    Five years from January 1, 1995.

 /s/ Lauris N. Molbert                   /s/ N. Bruce Thom
------------------------------          -------------------------------------
Lauris N. Molbert                       N. Bruce Thom, Chair BOD Mid-States
                                        Development, Inc.

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