Lake County to file for ability to appeal pipeline permit before SD PUC

Lake County Commissioners heard from more concerned landowners regarding the route of a proposed carbon dioxide transmission pipeline during their meeting this week.  Summit Carbon Solutions has applied for a permit for the pipeline with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.  Two Minnehaha County landowners spoke to commissioners via phone during the Community Comments portion of their regular meeting Tuesday.  Joy Hohn asked for the commission’s help in protecting the safety of the residents who live near the proposed route of the pipeline.  

Hohn encouraged Lake County commissioners to apply for party status with the PUC in order to be able to be involved in the process if necessary.

Commissioners also heard from Linda Dansman-Nichols, a Minnehaha and Lake County landowner, and received a written comment from Michael and Katie Shum of Lake County.

The PUC held several public input meetings in March regarding Summit Carbon Solutions’ permit application.  The pipeline is proposed to include approximately two-thousand miles of pipelines for the transportation of Carbon Dioxide from more than 30 ethanol plants across five states, including seven plants in South Dakota, to underground injection control facilities in North Dakota.  

Lake County Commissioners discussed the pipeline and the county’s involvement during an executive session held at the end of their regular meeting on Tuesday.  After the executive session, Commission Administrative Officer Shelli Gust said that Commissioners Adam Leighton and Aaron Johnson had both identified a conflict of interest that prohibits them from discussing or voting on any future matters involving the Summit Carbon Solutions’ pipeline or its permit application.  Both commissioners recused themselves from these matters at this time.  

The remaining three commissioners then voted to direct the State’s Attorney to file an Application for Party Status for the purpose of protecting Lake County’s appeal rights regarding Summit Carbon Solutions’ PUC permit application.

https://puc.sd.gov/Dockets/HydrocarbonPipeline/2022/hp22-001.aspx