The Iowa Utilities Board has just completed four days of hearings to consider a permit the Bakken Oil Pipeline. The project proposed by Energy Transfer Partners of Texas would ship oil from North Dakota into South Dakota and Iowa and end up in Illinois. Midwest Alliance for Infrastructure Now Chairman and farmer Ed Wiederstein is hoping the Utilities Board approves the permit and bases it on sound information.
He says opponents are concerned about the Utilities Board granting eminent domain to the project, which would affect close to 300 landowners who have not signed off on easements. Wiederstein says eminent domain should only be used sparingly.
He says that process includes providing fair market value for land taken. Wiederstein does say however, if approved, the pipeline will bring great economic benefits to the state.
South Dakota, North Dakota and Illinois regulators have already approved the project. Besides the Iowa Utilities Board, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the State DNR must sign off on the pipeline.
