Vote NO on Referred Law 21
For nearly 20 years, South Dakota has landed in the crosshairs of pipelines and other extractive projects.
South Dakota is currently facing the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions (SCS) carbon dioxide pipeline. On November 5th, we urge you to vote NO on Referred Law 21 (RL-21). If passed, RL-21 would overturn county ordinances regulating pipelines and transfer enforcement power to the Public Utilities Commission, undermining local control over zoning laws, pipeline setbacks, and other vital safety measures.
The sponsors of RL-21 initially tried to pass it with an emergency clause, bypassing the public vote. After that failed, they renamed it the “Landowner Bill of Rights,” but most of the listed rights already exist under current laws or are negotiable by landowners. DRA maintains that this bill is a trojan horse, disguising Summit Carbon Solutions’ true aim of bypassing local government regulations, seen below in Section 6 of the bill. Read the whole bill.
Pipeline developers prioritize cost-saving measures, often disregarding the proximity of homes, schools, and hospitals. A CO2 leak could lead to serious illness or death. Counties, as the closest governing bodies, should have authority over pipeline setbacks and emergency preparedness.
RL-21’s appearance on the ballot reflects the grassroots efforts of over 31,000 South Dakotans who signed the referendum to ensure their voices are heard.
Listen to those directly impacted by the hazardous carbon pipeline! Protect local control by Voting NO on Referred Law 21 this November 5th!
To learn more, contact DRA Organizer Chase Jensen at Chase@dakotarural.org.