Sun, Sep 17th, 2023 - 4:06pm
June 01, 2023 - 11:45am | By Ty Schonert
(Bismarck, ND) -- Several lawmakers are writing North Dakotan leaders in regards to safety concerns with a CO2 pipeline's construction route.
In a letter addressed to North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wriggley, 10 state senators and 21 house members signed onto a letter sponsored by the MoveCO2Pipeline movement. The letter calls for the Attorney General to investigate the investors of the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions Carbon Pipeline, claiming only five investors have been disclosed of the 464 estimated contributors.
The MoveCO2Pipeline movement is a group of citizens and activists who are opposing any CO2 pipeline proposition that is within 20 miles of Bismarck's extra-territorial area. They are also calling for a requirement to be placed on Summit Carbon Solutions to pay for any and all injuries or loss of human, livestock, or agricultural life due to a CO2 release. MoveCO2Pipeline also wants pipeline operators to compensate local entities for emergency training, equipment, and upkeep to respond to accidents, and to create a rapid response plan with first responders, the N.D. National Guard, and the N.D. Department of Energy Services. An online petition has garnered 582 signatures as of this publication.
"The summit pipeline poses serious public health risks should a leak occur... " said Former Bismarck Mayor John Warford in opposition to the implementation of the proposed pipeline, "That will effect not only the populated areas north and east of Bismarck, but also Bismarck itself."
The open letter is not the only contribution to the pipeline conversation. Several bills circulated through the legislative session that would have delayed or stopped the pipeline's construction in some way, but none officially landed on Governor Burgum's desk for signature. The Bismarck County Commission has also voiced their support in the decision to move or delay the pipeline proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions.
Summit Carbon Solutions' plan is to create a carbon dioxide pipeline that captures the gas and takes it to permanent underground storage facilities. They say the pipeline is expected to create 11,000 jobs throughout its construction, and an estimated 1,100 jobs when operational.
"The safety of landowners, the communities where we will operate, and our employees and contractors is our top priority and always will be. In order to meet that commitment, our team continues to conduct biological and cultural surveys to determine a route for our project that maximizes safety to the public and environment."
