Several transmission pipelines serving Black Hills Energy facilities in Rapid City are under investigation by the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). PUC inspectors filed a formal complaint after failing to reach an agreement with the company.
The complaint alleges that Black Hills Energy began construction on two pipelines without providing the required 60-day notice to the PUC and failed to secure necessary permits for two of the projects. The pipelines in question are the Ben French, Lange 1, and Lange II lines.
If confirmed, the violations could result in civil penalties of up to $2 million for each failure-to-notify infraction, and up to $10,000 per day plus a class-one misdemeanor for failure-to-permit violations.
Black Hills Energy has not yet issued a formal response.
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