Letter to the Editor: Eminent domain should be landowners choice
Eminent domain should be reserved for public utilities and public infrastructure such as new highways and bridges that benefit all. Summit Pipeline is seeking to use eminent domain to force landowners to give up a portion of their land for their shareholders’ profits. They are suing South Dakotans in McPherson County because the landowners have denied this private, foreign-backed company from coming on to their land to survey it for their personal use.
Summit plans to cash in on federal money (taxpayer’s money) as part of a green package utilizing carbon credits. When other private companies want to do business they either need to own the land or lease the land from a landowner. Why should this be any different? Can you imagine any other business doing the same?
Let’s say an auto mechanic shop wants to open up in town but there isn’t any commercial land available. So, they go to the PUC and get authorization to eminent domain a portion of the golf course to put up their garage. Then they need a place to dispose of their used oil so they use eminent domain to put a septic tank in your backyard to drain their oil into for storage.
The idea is crazy and it doesn’t become a good idea when the landowners are farmers or hunting lodges. To make matters worse, the billions of dollars they will be making is coming straight out of the pockets of you and I. The carbon dioxide in the pipeline is problematic as well. When it leaks it can starve livestock, wildlife or people of oxygen. First responders will find themselves walking to the scene as their vehicles will stop running as the co2 levels rise. They will all need special equipment and special training. Right now, our volunteer firefighters are in serious need of new radios that cost $8,000 each.
This is where our tax dollars should be going, to properly equip our first responders so they can communicate during emergencies. Why task them with additional burdens all so some private company can make their investors and foreign interests super rich? Something doesn’t add up. I stand with the landowners and I would hate to see who will come knocking to use your land next if we set this precedent of eminent domain for private gain go through.
Nichole Cauwels
Brandon
