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Dickinson County Supervisors Adopt Pipeline Ordinance

April 16, 2024 Steve Schwaller

(Spirit Lake)– The Dickinson County Board of Supervisors today (Tues.) adopted an ordinance regulating hazardous pipelines. The supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the first reading. They also voted 5-0 to waive the 2nd and 3rd readings, granting final approval.

The action followed a public hearing. Bonnie Ewolt of Milford was among those calling on supervisors to adopt the measure…

“Summit drew up the route for this hazardous CO2 pipeline without any regard to topography or proximity to high risk areas like towns, schools, public parks and homes. The Board of Supervisors is duty bound to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Dickinson county.”

Scott Okonek of Summit Carbon Solutions differed…

“You know, safety of the landowners, the communities, and our workers is engrained in our corporate values, and reflected in all we do. Protecting local communities and the landscape is our top priority.”

Supervisor Chairman Bill Leupold says he feels the ordinance is a fair compromise. Among other things, it establishes a 1,600 foot setback from occupied dwellings. Leupold says people on both sides of the issue that he and fellow supervisor Tim Fairchild met with seemed to be okay with that…

“That’s where we found out 1,600 feet was okay. We went to the ethanol plant, talked to those people. 1,600 feet will work because they can attach to this, so they can make ethanol for aviation fuel. We tried to balance both sides. I think this ordinance does it.”

Summit Carbon Solutions has filed litigation against several other counties that have adopted similar ordinances, arguing that counties don’t have legal authority to do that.

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