On Tuesday night, I attended the public hearing on FEIS of Otter Tail – Wilkin portion of CO2 Pipeline in Fergus Falls. Most of the people speaking shared concerns about the adequacy of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) released by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
A OAH judge listened to the comments.
I was struck by the civility of the gathering, despite the strong opinions held by those who oppose or support this relatively tiny spur of the Summit Carbon Solutions' ethanol carbon pipeline, as well as by testimony of the loca ethanol plant operator that 70 percent of the corn harvest in Otter Tail County goes to feeding the ethanol plant, rather than the world.
AgWeek's Micheal Johnson reports in There's still time to comment on Summit carbon pipeline route in Otter Tail and Wilkin counties:
An administrative law judge heard mostly concerns about a proposed 28-mile segment of the Summit Carbon Solutions CO2 pipeline between Wilkin and Otter Tail counties during a two-hour hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
About 60 attended the public comment hearing held by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to hear updates and share comments on the portion of the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline that is proposed to extend a 4.5-inch CO2 pipeline from Green Plains Ethanol Plant in Fergus Falls west to the Minnesota-North Dakota border near Breckenridge.
The project would also include a carbon capture facility at the ethanol plant and access roads. The project is part of the larger Midwest Carbon Express Project , where a pipeline network would send CO2 to injection wells for sequestration in underground formations in central North Dakota. . . .
A strong majority of those commenting on Aug. 20 spoke in opposition to the project, emphasizing health and safety risks. Brought up numerous times was the concern of a CO2 leak that could cause serious health implications to those nearby.
Also brought up numerous times from those sharing opposition to the project was the risk to water in the area as well as the increase of water use. . . .
Molly Stoddard, a 19-year resident of Fergus Falls and retired US Fish and Wildlife Service staff member, brought numerous concerns, chiefly that the only ones supportive of the project were those interested in making profits. . . .
Scott Lankow, a farmer and landowner, was the only directly impacted landowner whose property is crossed by the Summit pipeline, to comment at the meeting. He spoke in favor of the project. . . .
Also speaking in favor of the project were several labor union representatives addressing the importance of job creation that the project would support. . . .
Read thee entire article at Agweek.
As the headline suggests, the public comment period is still open:
Those not in attendance can still provide comment on the final EIS, and on the routing permit for the project until 4:30 p.m., Sept. 11, 2024.
Comments may also be submitted online at https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/public-comments or by email at [email protected]. Comments can be mailed to Consumer Affairs Office Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55101.
I hope readers look at the EIS can submit comments.
Map: A final EIS report offered three alternative route options for a carbon dioxide pipeline traveling from Otter Tail County to Wilkin County in Minnesota. Source> Minnesota Department of Commerce
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