Residents Get Details On Proposed Oil Pipeline

Monday, June 25th 2007, 6:01 pm

By: News On 6

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) _ Officials with the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline said Monday that land owners who sign easements for a crude oil pipeline would be paid for crop losses on their torn-up land.

The nearly 1,900 mile pipeline would transport crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to Patoka, Illinois, with a possible extension to Oklahoma. The proposed path would enter Nebraska near Yankton, South Dakota, and extend south-southeast through 10 Nebraska counties. It would cost about $2.1 billion.

People who sign easement documents could not plant any large trees that could hinder flyover inspections and could not build any structures within 50 feet of the route.

But regular crops could be planted on the affected land, and TransCanada would help cover agricultural losses for three years.

South Dakota officials held a hearing on the project Monday.