<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><title></title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-indent: 0.00in; text-align: justify; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0 { color: black; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000000 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000001 { color: black; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000002 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003 { color: black; background: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004 { color: black; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000005 { color: #FF0000; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC2 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000006 { color: #FF0000; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: underline; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules?Rule=20:10:37:01"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000000">20:10:37:01</span></a><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000001">.  Definitions.</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0"> Terms defined in SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-34B-1"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000002">49-34B-1</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0"> have the same meaning when used in this chapter. In addition, terms used in this chapter mean:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    (1)</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">  </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">"Incident," any of the following events:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">        (a)  A release of gas from a gas pipeline facility or of liquefied natural gas or gas from a liquefied natural gas facility; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">            (i)   A death, or personal injury necessitating in-patient hospitalization; or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">            (ii)  Estimated property damage</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0"> or</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0"> cost of gas lost of the operator or </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">another</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">, or both, </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">in the aggregate amount </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">of $</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">145</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">,000 or more;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">        (b)  An event that results in an emergency shutdown of a liquefied natural gas facility; or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">        (c)  An event that is significant, in the judgment of the operator, even though it did not meet the criteria of subdivisions (a) and (b) above;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    (</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">2</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">)  "Incident docket," a docket opened with the commission upon the initiation of an investigation of an incident;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    (</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">3</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">)  "Incident report," the report drafted by an inspector after an incident;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    (</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">4</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">)  "Inspection," a review of the books, files, records, reports, supplemental data, other documents and information, </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">and an examination of the </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">plant, property, and facilities of a pipeline operator to ensure compliance with applicable pipeline safety standards;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    (</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">5</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">)  "Inspection report," the report drafted by an inspector after an inspection of any type, except for an incident; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    (6)  "Inspector," a pipeline safety inspector employed by, or contracted as, an agent of the commission; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    (7)  "Pipeline safety program," the program administered by the commission with regulatory jurisdiction over the safety standards and practices of all jurisdictional intrastate natural gas and other gas pipelines within </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">this state</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000001">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0"> 36 SDR 57, effective October 19, 2009</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">; 52 SDR 32, effective September 29, 2025</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000001">General Authority:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0"> SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-34B-4"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000002">49-34B-4</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-34B-19"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000002">49-34B-19</span></a><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000001">Law Implemented:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0"> SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-34B-3"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000002">49-34B-3</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-34B-4"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000002">49-34B-4</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=49-34B-19"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000002">49-34B-19</span></a><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">    </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000001">Declaratory Ruling: </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0">The Public Utilities Commission filed a declaratory ruling with the Legislative Research Council </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">in the matter of The Proper Classification of Certain NorthWestern Energy Pipelines</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">. The </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">question before the Commission was whether a pipeline, which operates at less than twenty percent of specified minimum yield strength,</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004"> and </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">is owned in part by Northern Natural Gas and in part by NorthWestern Energy</span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">,</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004"> should be classified as a transmission or a distribution line when Northern Natural Gas had opted to classify its portion of the pipeline as a transmission line pursuant to 49 C.F.R.</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004"> § </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">192.3.  The Commission ruled that Northern Natural Gas s classification of its portion of the pipelines was not dispositive to NorthWestern s classification</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">, and </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">because the pipelines operate at less than twenty percent of specified minimum yield strength, do not transport within a storage field, and do not transport gas from a gathering pipeline or storage facility,</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000005"> </span><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004">the pipelines are properly classified as distribution.</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000004"> Declaratory Ruling PS 25-002, dated December 18, 2025, and available at: </span><a href="https://puc.sd.gov/commission/dockets/pipelinesafety/2025/PS25-002/PS25-002DecRuling.pdf"><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC2">https://puc.sd.gov/commission/dockets/pipelinesafety/2025/PS25-002/PS25-002DecRuling.pdf</span></a><span class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000006">.</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cC0-000005"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92cP0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="scc286f84-3090-4d6b-815d-3673389cc92c000003"> </span></p></div></body></html>