PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has approved a request for party status from a rural Harrold family opposed to a proposed wind farm near their family farm and pheasant lodge operation.  Commission Chairman Chris Nelson says Michael and Judi Bollweg have made three applications in the docket for party status.

Brent Koenecke, a Pierre lawyer representing the North Bend Wind Farm project hand no objection to the application by the Bollweg’s.

Jim Malters, the lawyer representing the Bollweg’s in their opposition to the 72 wind turbine facility says his clients didn’t want any part of their operation left out of being able to challenge the project.

The Bollwegs are the only interveners seeking party status in the North Bend docket.  I-O-U-E Local 49, a heavy equipment operators, mechanics and stationary engineers union representing workers in Minnesota and the Dakotas withdrew their party status application in the North Bend docket last week.  Local 49 withdrew the application after learning they can participate in the docket through submitting comments to the P-U-C.