Pipelines Are Already Major Player in South Dakota

Public outcry has halted what could be from the Dakota Access Pipeline. For an idea of what already is, there’s a place to find where current pipeline has been laid.

While this potential new pipe is causing quite a stir, there is plenty of existing pipeline. An arm of the U.S. Government called the National Pipeline Mapping System can let you know where the pipes are buried.

You can see for yourself at npms.phmsa.dot.gov by clicking on the link then scrolling down on the page to the “Use Public Viewer” icon. Once there you choose the state and county you wish to view and pipeline is at your fingertips.

You may be thinking a shortcut would be nice to take a screen shot of the counties around Sioux Falls and display them here so that you don’t have to click the link. Unfortunately the lawyers thought the “Terms of Use” and the phrase, “Data cannot be downloaded from the Public Viewer,” might bring civil or criminal penalties.

In Minnehaha County, it is no surprise that liquids are piped to a couple of tank sites in Sioux Falls. One of them at 12th and Marion Road and another just north of I-229 west of Minnesota Avenue.

Also remember that the landfill west of Sioux Falls pipes away methane gas to the ethanol plant near Chancellor. Natural gas is piped to Colton, Dell Rapids, Baltic, Hartford and Sioux Falls plus another line that runs west of Brandon.

Then by looking at Lincoln County, most of the pipes that move product through is headed for Sioux Falls. However, there are trunk lines that serve Canton, Lennox and Harrisburg. Speaking of Harrisburg, no less than five major pipelines are either underneath or within a mile of the community.

It is worth a little effort to check the site. Pipelines are a major player for bringing petroleum products to the area.