North Dakota

North Dakota Blocks Summit CO2 Pipeline; Iowa Company Failed to Address Numerous Deficiencies in Application

Published

12 months ago

August 5, 2023

North Dakota Blocks Summit CO2 Pipeline; Iowa Company Failed to Address Numerous Deficiencies in Application

The North Dakota Public Service Commission has rejected Iowa-based Summit Carbon Solutions’ bid to lay 320 miles of its Midwest Carbon Express pipeline across North Dakota and pump carbon dioxide from ethanol plants across five states down into the Bakken oil fields northwest of Bismarck. The North Dakota PSC denied the permit because Summit Carbon Solutions did not respond adequately to landowner and commissioner concerns about property values, alternative routes, and mitigation of possible damage:

Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide pipeline map, from SCS, posted in Chris Clayton, “Carbon Pipeline Project Update: Summit’s Carbon Project Faces Setback After North Dakota Denies Permit,” DTN Progressive Farmer, 2023.08.04.

The Commission received extensive public comment during the hearings. Those testifying expressed broad concerns regarding eminent domain, safety, the policy of permanent CO2 sequestration and storage, setback distances, irreparable harm to underground drain tile systems, impacts on property values, and the ability to obtain liability insurance due to the project.
Landowners and intervenors testified that the project would cause adverse effects on the value of their property and residential development projects. Summit filed a letter from an appraisal company in response to these concerns. However, the filing was not brought forth during any of the public hearings and therefore the Commission and intervenors did not have the opportunity to ask questions about the document or question a witness from Summit.
Several landowners testified expressing concerns specific and unique to their properties. Landowners repeatedly testified that they had contacted Summit with requests for reroutes across their properties or other mitigation steps but heard nothing back from the company. The Commission felt that Summit has not taken steps to address outstanding legitimate impacts and concerns expressed by landowners or demonstrated why a reroute is not feasible. The Commission also requested additional information on a number of issues that came up during the hearings. Summit either did not adequately address these requests or did not tender a witness to answer the questions [North Dakota Public Service Commission, press release, 2023.08.04].

The NDPSC also says Summit Carbon Solutions failed to fix a cultural resource report branded substandard by the North Dakota State Historical Preservation Office. Summit also failed to explain to the PSC how it would deal with 14 areas of potential geological instability identified by the U.S. Geological Survey along the proposed pipeline route.

The NDPSC did not consider eminent domain, compliance with federal pipeline safety regulations, or the underground sequestration of carbon dioxide, saying those matters are outside the commission’s jurisdiction. Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann emphasized that he is not rendering judgment on CO2 sequestration and pipelines in general, just addressing the deficiencies in Summit’s application for this specific project.

Pipeline opponent and former Bismarck mayor Steve Bakken nonetheless cheers the decision as a win for property rights and local economic development:

The denial of the permit is “a win for private property rights in North Dakota, plain and simple,” said former Bismarck mayor Steve Bakken, who opposed the pipeline.
The proposed Bismarck-area route would have constrained future growth of the city, Bakken said. He also cited safety concerns for not knowing how the company would plan to respond to a pipeline break [Jack Dura, “North Dakota Regulators Deny Siting Permit for Summit Carbon Dioxide Pipeline; Company Will Reapply,” AP, 2023.08.04].

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission hears Summit’s permit application September 11–22. State Treasurer Josh Haeder will sit in for PUC chair Kristie Fiegen, who must sit out because her husband’s sister owns land on the pipeline route. Similarly, North Dakota administrative law judge Tim Dawson sat in for PSC chair Julie Fedorchak, who recused herself from North Dakota’s hearing because she herself signed a contract with Summit to store carbon dioxide on her land in Oliver County.

The Iowa Utilities Board has scheduled its evidentiary hearing on the Midwest Carbon Express for August 22. Iowa opponents are saying that North Dakota’s denial means Summit has no place to ship its CO2 and that the IUB should thus delay its own hearings.

South Dakota and Iowa could still go ahead with their hearings, and if Summit wins their approval, the company could still start construction next year. But reapplying to the NDPSC and changing North Dakota commissioners’ minds could take another ten months.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has backed Summit’s pipeline from the beginning. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem kept silent on her Iowa Republican friends’ proposed CO2 pipeline until this June, when she wishy-washily muttered support for landowners against the pipeline.

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North Dakota

Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at the ND State Fair

Published

3 hours ago

July 22, 2024

Press Room

Tuesday is Military Appreciation Day at the ND State Fair

MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – This is a reminder for servicemembers and their families that the North Dakota State Fair is continuing its long-standing tradition of honoring those who serve with a special Military Appreciation Day on Tuesday.

Military members and their families can enjoy lunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the north festival tent.

The event is sponsored by the N.D. Beef Commission, N.D. Stockmen’s Association, and N.D. CattleWomen.

They can also enjoy free carnival rides from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., half-off unlimited ride wristbands, and $2 off go-cart rides.

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North Dakota

Applications now available for 2024 North Dakota swan license

Published

10 hours ago

July 22, 2024

Press Room

Applications now available for 2024 North Dakota swan license

BISMARCK – Hunters can now apply for a 2024 North Dakota swan license

on the Game and Fish Department’s website

at gf.nd.gov, the department said Monday, July 22.

North Dakota residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply. The resident swan license is $10, while the nonresident fee is $30. The application deadline is Aug. 21.

North Dakota’s statewide tundra swan hunting season opens Sept. 28, and 2,200 licenses are available. Successful applicants will receive a tag to take one swan during the season. Since swans are classified as waterfowl, nonresidents may hunt them only during the period their nonresident waterfowl license is valid.

All swan hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a general game and habitat license when applying. In addition, nonresidents must have a waterfowl license, and residents 16 and older need a small game or combination license.

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North Dakota

Zebra Mussels In North Dakota Lakes: Will It Really Be That Bad?

Published

17 hours ago

July 22, 2024

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Zebra Mussels In North Dakota Lakes: Will It Really Be That Bad?

Zebra mussels are going to ruin all of our lakes right?

Okay, I know I’m going to take some heat on this, but here goes. We’ve been hearing about zebra mussels for a long time now. How they will destroy ecosystems, ruin beaches, clog up water intakes, compete with native species, etc.

You’ve seen the commercials and billboards from North Dakota Game and Fish, “Clean, Drain and Inspect.” Zebra mussels are a problem, but is it really all doom and gloom? More on that in a moment.

Zebra mussels are now in several North Dakota lakes and rivers, and you can bet more will be added in the future.

They include the Red River, Lake LaMoure, Lake Ashtabula, Lake Elsie, the James River, and the Sheyenne River all in eastern North Dakota.

So far western North Dakota has been spared, but you can bet zebra mussels are coming. Here’s a map and more on ANS-infested waters in North Dakota.

Humans are considered the primary transporter of zebra mussels, but there are other spreaders. According to Researchgate, waterfowl can transfer zebra mussels at the larvae stage.

What are we going to do about millions of migrating waterfowl each year? Not to mention other shorebirds, reptiles, and even mammals.

I’m very familiar with zebra mussels. I have a cabin on Enemy Swim Lake in northeast South Dakota. We’ve had zebra mussels present in the lake now going on for 3 years.

(A very small zebra mussel that was found on our beach this past weekend.)

Enemy Swim is located about 5 miles south of Pickerel Lake in South Dakota. Pickerel Lake has had zebra mussels for a few years longer than my lake.

Despite joint efforts from Fish and Game, cabin owner volunteers, and interns from Fish and Game with inspection points at the boat ramp, zebra mussels still found their way into my lake. I know we all did our part to prevent it, but I sometimes think that eventually, nature will take its course.

Will zebra mussels really ruin a lake?

There’s a lot of big claims and theories out there. No doubt it will affect your beach life. You will have to wear water shoes because zebra muscles can be sharp and could cut your feet. I know I swim with my water shoes normally anyway, as I don’t like creepy crawlies touching my feet in the water.

Will zebra mussels cause your lake property values to crash?

To be honest, no sign of that anywhere. Much of Minnesota’s lakes are infested with zebra mussels. People are still spending millions of dollars for cabins on Minnetonka, Pelican, or Detroit Lakes area lakes.

Even Pickerel Lake, next to my lake has people snatching up some very expensive million-dollar cabins. You can’t even find a cabin for sale on my lake. According to swnewsmedia, there’s no link between a drop in property values and zebra muscles.

Zebra mussels will actually clear up the water they infest.

This might improve the fishing, depending on the lake. Species like Smallmouth Bass, Perch, Walleyes, and even panfish are known to gorge on zebra mussels. You might catch bigger fish because of this.

With cleaner water means you will have more sunlight and more vegetation in the lake. Again, this is thought to improve the size of the fish. Fish will have more places to hide and grow bigger. It may cause anglers to adapt to new strategies to catch fish. In some cases, it could make fishing more difficult.

As far as whether zebra mussels will destroy the ecosystem of lakes?

I’m going to come right out and say it. I think this is highly exaggerated. I’m not a biologist and don’t claim to be one.

Zebra mussels have been in the Great Lakes since the 1980’s. The Walleyes and Smallmouth Bass have never been bigger. People are still catching fish and lakes are still alive.

Zebra mussels have been in Minnesota lakes now for decades and the cabin owners I know say nothing has changed except a little extra cleaning on the docks when they pull them out each year.

Lakes like Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, and all of the lakes around Detroit Lakes are still alive and well.

Let’s face it: Even the highly prized Walleye is an invasive species to lakes in our area.

In conclusion:

When zebra mussels reach your favorite lake it will certainly change the ecosystem. Your “lake life” will likely have to adapt to some necessary changes.

However, will zebra mussels turn your lake into a barren wastewater? I don’t think so. Adapt or die. That’s life in a nutshell.

Do I want zebra mussels in our lakes? No, of course not. However, I’m being realistic. Sometimes you have to look for the good with the bad.

North Dakota’s Top 11 Lakes According To Our Fans

Plant Some Of These In Your Garden to Keep Mosquitoes Away

As we previously told you, mosquitoes are the most dangerous creatures on earth. If you want to keep them away from you’re yard, these plants can help!

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

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