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Senate committee advances bill giving Minnesota landowners right to remove abandoned pipelines
Summary
A Senate committee voted 6-5 to send SF 733 to the environment committee after a day of testimony on a bill that would give landowners the right to require pipeline removal and require abandonment plans and tribal consultation.
Sen. Mary Kunish, sponsor of Senate File 733, told the Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee on March 19 that "Currently, Minnesota law does not require a pipeline company to offer pipeline removal." Kunish presented SF 733, a bill that would give Minnesota landowners a right to choose removal of decommissioned pipelines on their property at the pipeline company's expense and require an abandonment plan approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety with at least one public hearing and tribal consultation.
The matter drew competing testimony from environmental advocates, industry representatives and landowners. Sarah Meradian, government relations and policy director for CURE, said SF 733 "seeks to meet the needs of both by establishing a right for Minnesota landowners to choose between removal or abandonment in…
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