Pipeline Bill Stopped in House

Legislation stemming from a disagreement between carbon pipeline company Summit Carbon Solutions and a northeastern South Dakota landowner failed to clear a House committee Friday morning.

The House’s Commerce and Energy Committee defeated HB 1079 by an eight to four vote, the first of what landowner rights activists say will be one of several attempts to suffocate Summit’s plans to build hundreds of miles of carbon pipeline across eastern South Dakota this session.

Carried by freshman lawmaker Scott Moore of Ipswich – the bill would have required companies doing surveying work to gain the permission of the property owner and the tenant, or to have a permit from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Landowners attempting to put a stop to Summit’s carbon pipeline have accused the company of coming onto farmers property without permission, and in some cases, causing damages to their property. Those accusations came to a head last year when Summit surveyed the land of farmer and ardent pipeline opponent Jerad Bossly with heavy equipment. Bossly maintains that Summit had not gained his permission to come onto his land.

Summit, who testified against the bill, was joined in their opposition by utility companies, who expressed concerns about potential unintended consequences stemming from the bill’s language.

This piece of legislation is the only one to be filed thus far relating to carbon pipelines, but landowner rights activists opposed to attempts to complete the project have said that they intend to bring forth more bills this year intended to help thwart the pipeline.