PIERRE, S.D.(The Dakota Scout) – An effort to deny Summit Carbon Solutions an application to build a carbon sequestration pipeline ahead of highly anticipated hearings next month has been blocked by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.

Attorney Brian Jorde, representing landowners in their fight against both the Navigator CO2 and Summit pipelines, appealed to the PUC during a routine meeting Tuesday, arguing that a a decision in North Dakota to block the Summit pipeline should compel the South Dakota PUC to return the permit application before a series permit hearings next month.

“There has to be a terminus and a path into North Dakota,” Jordre argued. “Summit currently doesn’t have a path. In fact, they don’t even have an application on file because it was rejected.”

According to Pierre radio station KCCR, Summit attorney and lobbyist Brett Koenecke said that there had been “no material change” in Summit’s approach to the project since North Dakota’s Public Service Commission issued its rejection.

“This smacks as some sort of a Hail Mary attempt to derail the proceedings here in this state,” Koenecke told the commission, noting the company had refiled its application in North Dakota.