Letter to the Editor: Wright: Revealing the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ bill of sale’

South Dakota is not for sale. More than 38,000 people of South Dakota have signed the petition against Senate Bill 201 (SB 201) in just 90 days in a grassroots effort. South Dakota’s citizens have spoken and we want to keep our property rights local and out of the hands of big private corporations and state government. To continue these efforts please vote “No” on Nov. 5 on Referred Law 21 (RL 21), the ballot version of SB 201. 

RL 21, the “wolf in sheep’s clothing bill of sale”, is lengthy, confusing, and deceptive – offering no real protections for the landowners in the so called “Landowners Bill of Rights”. This bill could have a profound impact on our state’s and our neighboring states’ livelihoods, economy, environment, health, and safety in ways that would be irreparable. Learn more truths on YouTube video “Facts2024Ep8”.

This bill takes away the rights of every South Dakota citizen: it does not address eminent domain for potential economic development; there’s no protection of Constitutional rights; it restricts landowner’s ability to negotiate easements; it legislates private land negotiations; there’s no mandate of public release of safety data that includes pipeline rupture kill zones; and it does not protect landowners’ liability from pipeline ruptures. 

This bill destroys local authority and control: it overrides local ordinances designed to protect communities; it upends 135 years of county zoning authority for a prospective project and future unknowns; it prohibits a county’s ability to tax or charge fees to offset costs and expenses; and it does not guarantee the $1 per linear foot and only for up to 12 years.

Aug. 21, 2024, the SD State Supreme Court ruled that CO2 is not a commodity, that the Summit pipeline is not a common carrier, and that Summit will not be allowed to use eminent domain to force landowners to sign easements for pipeline development or be able to access their land for surveys without consent. CO2 is necessary for plant growth so why take it out of the air? 

This project is driven by Summit and their allies to acquire billions in tax credits (our taxpayer dollars), take control of our land, and use the sequestered CO2 for fracking oil, lining their pockets and those of foreign entities. We do not want these foreign entities taking control of our land. Let your voice be heard by voting “No” on RL 21. South Dakota is not for sale. 

RJ and Lisa Wright

Brandon