PUC commissioners continue to hear evidence in the application from Navigator CO2 to construct the Heartland Greenway CO2 project.
The debate in Monday's hearing focused on easement agreements and private land yields.
Some landowners fear the operating temperature of Navigator’s proposed pipeline will cause long-term damage to their soil and growth potential.
Stephen Lee is an engineer for Navigator CO2. He said the opposite is true, and that farmers could get higher yields with a pipeline under their fields.
Brain Jorde represents landowners. He questioned Lee on Navigator’s easement agreements. In those agreements, Jorde said there is a lack of preventative care on Navigator’s part.
Lee said it is the landowner’s responsibility to have protective equipment in case of a pipeline leak.
“So when you look at threat preparedness, I believe its up to the individual landowners and their families. As some people might have fire alarms but they may not have fire extinguishers, you know, some people might have carbon monoxide monitors, some don’t. As it comes to the level of preparedness, that is family by family landowner by landowner,” said Lee.
Jorde also questioned Lee on easement agreement term limits. He said there has not been a single easement agreement in South Dakota that had a term limit.
“What do you believe the term, you know, maybe I have a lease for a year on a farm or something. What do you believe the term of your easement is? Is it not perpetual in perpetuity, forever?,” said Jorde.
“Again, it could be,” said Lee.
Navigator continues to seek easement agreements with landowners and currently need easements on 70% of their route.
PUC commissioners will continue to hear testimony throughout the week.
