Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Utilities Board will resume its review Friday of information filed on the request for a construction permit f
or construction of the Bakken oil pipeline through Iowa. Dakota Access is requesting the permit for the pipeline originating in North Dakota that would pass through 18 Iowa counties, including Lyon, Sioux and O’Brien Counties. I-U-B spokesman, Don Tormey, says tomorrow’s meeting will begin at 1 p-m at the board’s office.
There was speculation the board might take a vote on the issue at last Thursday’s meeting, which was the fourth straight day of discussion, but the board then announced Friday’s meeting and two other meetings in March. Tormey says the board can take as much time as it needs.
Iowa’s counterparts in North Dakota, South Dakota and Illinois have already approved permits for the pipeline construction. Tormey says it is taking a longer for the board to make a decision because of the interest in the pipeline and the information on the issue filed by those who favor it and those who oppose it.
While the board has scheduled two more meetings in March on the issue, that doesn’t mean it will take that long to make a decision.
Friday’s meeting will be in the I-U-B Hearing Room and Tormey says there is limited seating, so there are reserved seats for the parties in the hearing room for the afternoon of deliberations. Any remaining seats will be open to the general public.
Added seating is being provided in Conference Room 1 for the public and other representatives of the parties. The deliberations will be video streamed into the conference room and also be available on the board’s website. The meeting runs from 1 to 4 p-m. The other two meetings are scheduled for March 9th and 10th. You can go to the Iowa Utilities Board website at: iub.iowa.gov to find out more.
