Magellan representative briefs Pipestone County on proposed pipeline reroute, requests local comment

Sam Payton, director of government relations for the parent company of Magellan Pipeline Company, told the Pipestone County Board the company is seeking to reroute a refined-products pipeline that has been out of service since 2022. "We're we're trying to reroute a refined products, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel pipeline that was, shut down in 2022," Payton said, summarizing the project's purpose and regional supply impacts.

Payton said the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued a route permit and later ordered additional cultural and archaeological surveys; the company filed a compliance package with the PUC on April 28. He told the board the PUC docket number is 23-109 and that the commission opened a 30-day public comment window on May 22; at the time of the briefing Payton said there were roughly 180 comments in support and 38 opposed. "If you would like to submit a public comment...it would be important if the county weighed in on this," he said, and he encouraged local officials to emphasize factual route differences when they comment.

Bruce Griffith, a consultant working with the company, emphasized that Route 1 is downstream of Pipestone Creek and said numerous tribal and landowner surveys were completed with tribal participation. Commissioners discussed drafting a county letter supporting Route 1 because the route is downstream of the monument and directed staff to draft language for later formal action. The presenter noted environmental groups have asked to extend the public-comment period; the PUC had not decided on that request at the time of the briefing.

The board did not take an immediate formal vote on the route but directed staff to draft a letter for later consideration. The company representatives said they would be available to answer follow-up questions and provide filings and maps to county staff.