The state Public Utilities Commission has scheduled three public hearings next month on a Canadian company's permit application for a crude oil pipeline through parts of western South Dakota.

TransCanada Keystone Pipeline is proposing a 1,980-mile, 36-inch diameter underground pipeline to deliver tar sands crude oil from Hardisty, Alberta, to the Port Arthur and east Houston areas of Texas.

TransCanada plans a 1,400-person work force in South Dakota in 2011. The pipeline would go into service the next year.

The Keystone XL pipeline would pass through parts of Harding, Butte, Perkins, Meade, Pennington, Haakon, Jones, Lyman and Tripp counties in South Dakota.

The PUC will seek public comments on the proposal during three hearings on:

y April 27 at noon CDT in Winner at the Winner Community Playhouse.

y April 27 at 7 p.m. in Philip at the Philip School Fine Arts Room.

y April 28 at 6 p.m. in Buffalo at the Harding County Memorial Recreation Center.

Project representatives recently met with Pennington County and Butte County commissioners about road access to the pipeline route sites.

Details about the application can be found on the PUC's Web site,

www.puc.sd.gov/Dockets/HydrocarbonPipeline/2009/hp09-001.aspx.

Additionally, copies of the application are on file with auditors in the counties that would be affected by the project.

In 2007, TransCanada applied to build its Keystone Phase I project through eastern South Dakota. Construction on that pipeline should be done in the state later this year.

On the Net: www.transcanada.com/keystone/kxl.html.