A Pipeline Across Mahaska County Takes One More Step Forward

Attendees to the pipeline informational meeting could ask questions from those responsible for the proposed pipeline.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – What is the future of an oil pipeline in Iowa, and mainly the portion that would stretch through Mahaska County?

A couple hundred people filled into Gateway Church of the Nazarene this week to find out about the proposed project and how it will impact landowners and members of the community.

The proposed pipeline will snake its way across multiple states from the northwest corner of North Dakota, where it originates in the Bakken Shale Formation. The pipe then heads southeast through South Dakota, enters Northwest Iowa, working its way into Central Iowa and Mahaska County before exiting the state in the boot-heel. The pipeline will then terminate in the Patoka, Illinois area.

Mahaska County would host 32.54 miles of the pipeline. The third most of all of the Iowa counties.

Dakota Access claims the project will bring $3.78 billion into the overall U.S. economy, with $1.04 billion of that being capital investment in Iowa.

Dakota Access also claims this will bring 4,000 construction jobs to Iowa, with half of those being hired from the local labor pool.

This week, Dakota Access held the public meeting to help inform landowners of the process. This also enabled Dakota Access the ability to start directly negotiating with landowners. Dakota Access representatives will now begin the process of presenting a written offer for the permanent easement, temporary easement/workspace along with anticipated impacts that may include damages to crops during the construction phase.

The permanent easement will be 50 foot in width, and the payment will be determined by the valuation per acre.

The pipeline will be covered by 3 feet of soil at the minimum. The pipeline depth will increase in places where it crosses roads, rivers, lakes and or streams. In agricultural areas, 4 feet of soil will cover the pipeline.

If a landowner and Dakota Access can’t reach an agreement, eminent domain may be granted by the Iowa Utilities Board.

The deal to run the pipeline isn’t a sure deal just yet though. After holding such informational meetings in each of the Iowa counties that would be impacted by the pipeline, the company plans to file for its permit from the State in January.

If the permit is issued by the 3rd quarter of 2015, construction of the pipeline could commence in the 4th quarter of 2015, with the pipeline being in service and operational by the 4th quarter of 2016.

Locally, the additional revenue to Mahaska County from the pipeline would be an additional 3 million dollars in tax revenue. In the short term, if the pipeline is constructed, an influx of temporary revenue from the transient workforce could boost the local economy.