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Meeting To Hear Concerns Of Compound’s Water Request Delayed

PRINGLE, S.D. (AP) — A hearing to address concerns over a religious group’s request to triple the amount of water it can use at its Black Hills compound has been postponed.

The state Water Management Board was scheduled to discuss the request from the United Order of South Dakota at its March 5 meeting. An adjacent landowner has requested the meeting be delayed until the board’s following meeting in May.

The brother of imprisoned polygamous sect leader Warren Jeffs is seeking the state permit to increase the amount of water the compound near Pringle may draw from the Madison aquifer. Seth Jeffs has declined to say why the compound needs more water.

Several area landowners and two federal agencies are petitioning the state to deny or alter the group’s request.