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No Permit, No Pipeline: Time for Candidates to Speak up on TransCanada PUC Re-App

Happy Canada Day! I'm headed across the border to celebrate with America's nicest neighbors right now. But I'll be watching for Canadian friends who would share the celebratory sentiments of the Cowboy and Indian Alliance, which feasted on roast bison this weekend to celebrate the expiration of TransCanada's permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline across West River South Dakota.

Protestor proudly sports "No Permit, No Pipeline" logo at  Cowboy and Indian Alliance buffalo roast at the Oyate Wahacanka Woecun Rosebud Sioux Spirit Camp near Ideal, South Dakota on June 27, 2014. Photo by Matt Sloan for Bold Nebraska.
Protestor proudly sports "No Permit, No Pipeline" logo at Cowboy and Indian Alliance buffalo roast at the Oyate Wahacanka Woecun Rosebud Sioux Spirit Camp near Ideal, South Dakota on June 27, 2014. Photo by Matt Sloan for Bold Nebraska.

"No Permit, No Pipeline!" We can certainly hope so. To pump more of its tar sands through our fair state, TransCanada must now go through another application process with the Public Utilities Commission. That means the Cowboy and Indian Alliance can exert pressure on Public Utilities Commissioner Gary Hanson, who is up for re-election. Democratic challenger David Allen can turn up that pressure, asking South Dakotans to ask Commissioner Hanson why South Dakota support a pipeline that damages South Dakota's and the nation's long-term interests. Constitution Party PUC candidate Wayne Schmidt can jump in and ask South Dakotans why the PUC should approve a project built by a private foreign corporation exerting eminent domain on South Dakota property owners. (And hey, be bold, guys! Rick Weiland will back you up!)

I love Canada, but TransCanada can jump in a lake... or better yet, jump back from our lakes and streams and pastures.

9 Comments

  1. Union Co 2014.07.01

    In the Argus article (March 1 2014) (SD Deadline Looms) PUC Hanson said he could see "protracted hearings" once again over the XL pipeline if their permit expired. Now recent article he seems to have backed away from that statement. Opponents have new information against the pipeline available to them now that wasn't known during the first hearings so more hearings would be great.

  2. Steve Hickey 2014.07.01

    I was at Spirit Camp a few days ago and had a great meeting.

  3. larry kurtz 2014.07.01

    Tar sands railbit can be shipped in modified gondolas because it is barely flammable while explosive Bakken crude is destined for pipelines.

  4. Jessie 2014.07.01

    Be sure to click on the photo Cory used for this post. It opens up a gallery of interesting photos of the event, indicating organization and purpose and commitment. At least that's what I think I see.

  5. Jerry 2014.07.01

    I will not miss this black snake that is for sure. It would not have bought anything here to South Dakota but pure misery. I hope there will come a day when the republicans will stop trying to ram poison like this black snake or The Lone Tree fiasco down our throats.

  6. Deb Geelsdottir 2014.07.02

    Good photos, great event!

  7. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.07.03

    Union Co, protracted hearings are good for the truth, bad for business. Let's hope PUC Hanson leans toward truth... and let's lean on him to do so.

  8. caheidelberger Post author | 2014.07.03

    Hey, Pastor Steve! Can you blog that visit to Spirit Camp? Let's hear those Indian voices carry!

  9. Union Co 2014.07.03

    Thanks Cory. I wasn't sure you had seen the article, and yes, I plan to write.

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