Wednesday, The Iowa Utilities Board said they are ready to allow Energy Transfer Partners to begin constructing part of the Bakken Pipeline in the state. The Board directed its staff to develop an order for the pipeline project that a majority of board members are expected to sign later this week. Sierra Club of Iowa’s Legal Chair Wally Taylor says the Army Corps of Engineers hasn’t signed off on the project yet although their jurisdiction only covers water crossings in the state.
He says the I-U-B doesn’t have authority now to allow construction of any part of the pipeline because of their previous order they passed which said all governmental agencies must sign off on the project which the Corps hasn’t done yet. Taylor adds his group and others are suing to block the project so the jurisdiction belongs to the court.
Taylor says another snag Dakota Access is facing is related to an archaeological site in Northwest Iowa that’s in the Big Sioux Wildlife Management area governed by the Iowa DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where the pipeline is trying to cross.
Two of the three Iowa Utilities Board members are ready to approve partial construction of the project however one member is opposed due to their original order.
