Despite public opposition, Minnehaha County commissioners approved a significantly shorter setback distance for CO2 pipelines.
The rule applies to pipelines hauling CO2 and other material identified as hazardous.
After a tie vote at the last commission meeting, Minnehaha County commissioners approved an amendment Tuesday adjusting the distance pipelines can be built from dwellings, churches, and businesses.
The county's planning and zoning department proposed an ordinance setback distance of pipelines to 750 feet. The amendment brings that distance down to 330 feet.
Commissioner Joe Kippley brought the amendment forward. He said it provides a middle ground between landowners and pipeline companies.
“It’s a good first step of getting us into this arena and working constructively both with landowners and pipeline companies in a reasonable fashion so I'll be voting in favor on final passage for the ordinance,” said Kippley.
Not all commissioners agreed that the amendment met all stakeholders in the middle.
Commissioner Gerald Beninga voted against the adjustment. He said a company backing one of the projects previously referenced that they do not have an issue with further setback distances.
“I am curious though, why Iowa and the Navigator program approved and said in their video that they have no problem with 1,500,” said Beninga.
SDPB News reached out to Beninga to get more information about the video he referenced, but did not receive a response.
Many counties across the state are facing similar ordinance adjustment meetings. Brown County extended offset distance to 1,500 feet in late April.
Commissioner Jean Bender is the Minnehaha County Commission’s Chairperson. She voted for the amendment adjustment but said it was not an easy vote.
“This has been a significantly difficult issue. I remember Commissioner Bleyenberg saying something at the meeting that I watched so many times, about how a good compromise means nobody leaves happy, and I think we are going to at least hit the last part of that,” said Bender.
The PUC has not yet granted approval for either Summit or Navigator to move forward with their pipelines. Regardless, it’s up to county commissioners across the state to establish their own setback ordinances.
