Settlement reached in pipeline’s first eminent domain trials
By CHET BROKAW Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press - Monday, June 09, 2008
PIERRE, S.D.
Settlements were reached in the first trials scheduled in TransCanada Keystone’s use of eminent domain to gain access to private land along the route of its oil pipeline in eastern South Dakota.
A series of cases have been set for trial to determine compensation when the pipeline crosses private land. The settlement covers the first cases that were scheduled to go to trial Monday.
“We have been able to come to agreement on the ones that were scheduled to start today, and we continue to work on some of the others,” said Jeff Rauh, project representative for TransCanada Keystone.
The state Public Utilities Commission has approved a construction permit for the portion of the $5.2 billion TransCanada Keystone pipeline that will run through South Dakota.
The company, based in Calgary, Alberta, is building a 2,148-mile pipeline designed to deliver 590,000 barrels of crude oil daily from Alberta to refineries in Oklahoma and Illinois.
The 30-inch pipeline will pass through Marshall, Day, Clark, Beadle, Kingsbury, Miner, Hanson, McCook, Hutchinson and Yankton counties in eastern South Dakota.
Circuit Judge Jack Von Wald ruled last month that TransCanada could use eminent domain in disputes over its access to land for the pipeline in Marshall and Day counties. The next step in the process is a series of trials to set the value of easements across private property.
The first of those trials was to start Monday, but agreements were reached on Friday that led to the cancellation of those trials, officials said.
Rauh said both sides in the trials agreed that the terms of the agreement would be confidential.
“We continue to work to resolve all of the issues with each of the landowners,” Rauh said. “There may be trials in the future. It’s not clear at this point.”
http://www.grandforksherald.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D916QSV81