South Dakota Landowners & Elected Officials Call on Rep. Johnson to Withhold Vote on Reconciliation Bill that Federalizes CO2, Oil, and Hydrogen Pipeline Permitting & Eminent Domain

South Dakota Landowners & Elected Officials Call on Rep. Johnson to Withhold Vote on Reconciliation Bill that Federalizes CO2, Oil, and Hydrogen Pipeline Permitting & Eminent Domain

Pierre — South Dakota elected leaders and landowners hosted a Zoom video press conference on Monday, May 19 for members of the media, to discuss the new “fast-track,” “pay-to-play” permitting scheme snuck into the budget reconciliation bill being debated in Congress that would allow operators to pay a fee of $10 million for expedited federal permits issued within a year’s time that would overrule any existing or future state, county, or municipal restrictions.

• WHAT: Zoom Telepresser for South Dakota Landowners, Elected Officials to Discuss Federal Pipeline Land Grab in Reconciliation Bill
• WHO: Speakers:
  • Chase Jensen, Senior Organizer, Dakota Rural Action
  • Dennis Feickert, Chairman, SD Property Rights and Local Control Alliance
  • Ed Fischbach, Impacted Landowner and Dakota Rural Action Board Member
  • Chuck Willard, President, South Dakota Stockgrowers Association

The current federal budget bill text that was approved on May 13 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would erase all the blood, sweat and tears poured out by South Dakota landowners and elected officials, who fought for three years to enact a state law prohibiting the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, which was signed by Gov. Larry Rhoden. 

As the eventual full U.S. House vote on the budget is expected to be razor-close, Rep. Johnson is uniquely empowered to take a stand with South Dakotans, who voted 60%-40% in the last election to protect private property rights against eminent domain threats from carbon pipeline companies.

Nearly 70 organizations signed onto a letter sent to Energy & Commerce Committee members ahead of their vote on the bill Tuesday, opposing the fast-track permitting of pipelines that carry oil, CO2 and hydrogen that is included in the reconciliation bill text. “These measures would radically expand federal jurisdiction over all types of interstate pipelines, drastically limit public input, shorten environmental review timelines, and shield projects from legal challenges, all while clearing the way for expanded use of federal eminent domain against landowners,” the letter reads, concluding, “We urge you to reject these provisions in the bill. Permitting decisions must not be reduced to a transactional process that trades public safety and welfare for developer convenience. Congress must put the safety and welfare of landowners and communities above the tax credit driven profits of big corporate interests. New infrastructure should not be forced down the throats of landowners via eminent domain, and all landowners and communities deserve robust health, safety, and economic protections.

# # #