By Dave Baumeister
County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – This week, five local residents took issue with a letter Minnehaha County Commissioners wrote for the South Dakota PUC regarding the proposed Navigator CO2 pipeline to pass through 28 miles of Minnehaha County.
While only five spoke at this meeting, they encompassed a good deal of the comments members of the commission have heard in the past from many other county residents.
The matter of this letter was first brought up last month, but at the suggestion of Commissioner Joe Kippley, the item was deferred so more specific language could be added.
In the newest draft that commissioners voted on, the letter states that the commission “remains concerned about carbon dioxide transmission pipelines,” and it called for more training of emergency responders, along with using language that asked the PUC to hold Navigator “accountable to its assessment of public safety issues, and its own role in mitigating those issues,” adding “we also reserve the right as a county to regulate aspects of the pipeline consistent with state and federal laws.”
The letter also stated that the county was asking for “appropriate bonding or other ‘exit strategy’ elements should the pipeline cease operation.”
However, those in the audience, did not think the language went far enough in looking at issues concerning the pipeline.
They specifically pointed out that there was no longer any mention of the PUC allowing Navigator to use eminent domain in confiscating individual’s land.
Commissioner Jen Bleyenberg also echoed those sentiments and said that she thought the new letter’s wording was “too mild” in its approach.
Kippley said it was worded as “one government entity talking to another government entity.”
But he also emphasized how it stated that Minnehaha County was “reserving the rights” to act, within its scope.
Commissioner Dean Karsky addressed the eminent domain issue and said that issue was not within the county’s purview to act upon.
The motion to approve the letter was made by Kippley and it was passed on a 4 to 1 vote.
Bleyenberg was the sole “no” vote against the letter.
The next meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, on the third floor of the Minnehaha County Administration Building in Sioux Falls.
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