South Dakota House passes moratorium on carbon dioxide pipelines; easement-protection law clears; environmental-impact mandate fails

The South Dakota House on Feb. 25 approved a temporary moratorium on construction of carbon dioxide transmission pipelines and separately passed a bill intended to curb deceptive tactics in acquiring easements, while rejecting a separate measure that would have required the Public Utilities Commission to prepare a state environmental impact statement before issuing permits.

The moratorium, House Bill 10 85, passed on a 40-30 vote after floor debate that ranged from safety concerns to the economic impact of delaying large energy projects. Representative Tim Vazgard, the bill’s sponsor, told colleagues the measure was intended as a pause while federal pipeline safety rules are finalized and vetted during the federal comment period. “This bill simply asks that we take the time to sit back, take a step back, and wait till these rules are finished,” Vazgard said during debate.

Why it matters: proponents said CO2 pipeline incidents elsewhere and unsettled federal rules justify a temporary halt so state agencies, first responders and landowners can assess risks. Opponents said it would add uncertainty for developers and…