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DAKOTA RURAL ACTION MEMBERS TO ATTEND PUC PUBLIC HEARING
Media Releases | Dakota Rural Action | October 27, 2009
“I would really like the PUC to stand up for the landowner so they can continue to be good stewards of the land instead of letting foreign companies come in and run rough-shod over the people of South Dakota,” said JT Vig, a rancher in Meade County whose land will be crossed by the proposed pipeline.
Keystone I, a similar TransCanada pipeline being built in eastern South Dakota also had, and continues to have, many landowners concerned. Many of those Keystone I landowners and members of Dakota Rural Action are now sharing their experiences with South Dakota landowners affected by the western Keystone XL pipeline.
“I am totally disappointed in the lack of fairness and impartiality by the PUC during TransCanada’s permit process for the Keystone I pipeline,” said Kent Moeckly, an East River landowner whose property continues to be affected by the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone I pipeline. “I only hope that the PUC can treat the western landowners with a fairness that was not given to eastern landowners.”
Dakota Rural Action and landowners affected by the pipeline are asking the PUC to protect private property rights, ensure the safety of landowners and maintain the health of the environment. Because the permitting process has so many overlapping federal and state agencies involved, nobody has taken charge to protect the landowners and the environment.
“I have been very concerned with communication from the PUC about TransCanada, but am hopeful that they will take their responsibilities of protecting South Dakota seriously and make courageous decisions,” said Zona Vig, an affected rancher in Meade County about the upcoming PUC hearing.
The Keystone XL pipeline will transport extracted tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to Port Arthur, Texas and refineries in Houston. The proposed 36 inch diameter pipeline will have a capacity of 900,000 barrels of oil per day.
The proposed route will enter South Dakota from Montana into Harding County and extend in a southeasterly direction through Harding, Butte, Perkins, Meade, Pennington, Haakon, Jones, Lyman and Tripp counties. The entire length of the pipeline through South Dakota is approximately 313 miles, one of the largest construction projects in recent South Dakota history.
The PUC will take public comment about the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline on November 3, from 6-10:00 p.m. in Room 414 at the State Capital Building, 500 East Capital Ave, Pierre, SD.
Anyone interested in this project is welcome to appear and present their views, comments and questions regarding the project.
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is also holding an Evidentiary Hearing to consider expert testimony for the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline November 2-6th.
Dakota Rural Action is a grassroots family agriculture and conservation group that organizes South Dakotans to protect our family farmers and ranchers, natural resources, and unique way of life.
CONTACTS:
Luke Temple, Organizer Zona Vig, Landowner
Dakota Rural Action DRA Member
605-697-5204 605-748-2423
luket@dakotarural.org
Tagged with: keystone xl, transcanada, keystone, south dakota public utilities commission, dakota rural action
