Brown County commissioners are allowing a moratorium blocking hazardous pipeline development to end.
It was standing room only Tuesday as commissioners discussed whether to extend the county’s moratorium.
The county placed a moratorium on July 19, 2022 in an effort to block any permits or construction of hazardous waste pipelines.
Brown County is on the path of Summit Carbon Solution’s proposed carbon sequestration pipeline. Summit has sued the county over the moratorium.
Proponents of extending the moratorium said it should remain in place until federal CO2 pipeline regulations are established. Opponents said the moratorium was a "bullet" that was prematurely used.
The commission decided to allow the moratorium to end in hopes that state legislators would reevaluate state law.
Drew Dennert is a Brown County commissioner. During the recent commission meeting he read a piece of the county’s resolution on CO2 imminent domain reform.
“On July 6, 2023, hundreds of citizens held a rally in Pierre, in support of revisions to the South Dakota eminent domain law - culminating with approximately 2,000 signatures in support of eminent domain reform. Whereas the Brown County commissioners is in support of the constitutional rights of property owners. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the board of Brown County commissioners is in support of the governor and legislator revising South Dakota law,” said Dennert.
Duane Sutton is the Chair of the Brown County Commission. After a unanimous vote by the commission to adopt the resolution, he thanked fellow commissioners.
“I think that sends a message that it’s time to change some of our laws,” said Sutton.
This decision comes days after a group of Republican lawmakers filled a petition for a special legislative session to examine current state eminent domain and property right laws.
