SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) — It was a packed house full of emotion. Minnehaha County Commissioners voted this morning (Tuesday) to cut the safety setback zones for CO-2 pipelines roughly in half. The proposal to require a 330-foot setback between the pipelines and buildings was made by Commissioner Joe Kippley.
Landowner Joy Hohn of Hartford was among those opposed to the smaller setback zone. She spoke in favor of a 750-foot setback approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission a month ago.
Lincoln County is still working on regulations for the pipelines, while Lake County has decided not to put any county regulations in place. A vote on the setbacks ended up in a tie two weeks ago.
Commission Chair Jean Bender wasn’t able to be at that meeting. She broke the tie by supporting a measure to cut the setbacks in half, from 750 to 330 feet.
Commissioners steered clear of the safety issue in making their decision, leaving that to federal regulators. Pipeline opponent State Representative Karla Lems of Canton says that should be a primary factor.
The Public Utilities Commission will take up the CO-2 pipeline issue later this summer.
