A group of South Dakota lawmakers has begin circulating a petition in hopes of forcing a special session to protect private property rights against the developers of a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline. But the petition needs the signatures of at least two-thirds of the membership of both chambers. While Republican Gov. Kristi Noem could call a special session on her own, she has said it would be “fruitless” without agreement on the agenda beforehand. Opponents in South Dakota and other states have objected to Summit Carbon Solutions’ plan to use the power of eminent domain to run pipelines across private land without the owners’ consent.
