Letter of Intent Signed For Pipeline Inspection Service
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors considered a proposal from I+S Group to become the engineers to inspect a proposed oil pipeline that will potentially make its way through Mahaska County in 2016.
In December of 2014, Dakota Access held a local meeting to discuss the project with the community, which was part of the process needed in order for a permit to be issued by the Iowa Utility Board.
That meeting also enabled Dakota Access the ability to start directly negotiating with landowners. Dakota Access representatives have begun 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.
For Mahaska County Engineer Dave Shanahan, the prospect of inspecting that much pipeline installation would be too much for him and a county engineering department like that of Mahaska County. The inspection process also requires expertise in order to protect the people of Mahaska County, and the county’s infrastructure that will be crossed by the pipeline.
“If this pipeline comes to fruition, we need to be ready before it comes to it, instead of after, because we’ll never catch up if we go after it gets signed into,” Shanahan said to the Mahaska County Supervisors.
Shanahan recommend I+S Group to the Supervisors, and after a lengthy discussion with Evan Del Val, a civil engineer with I+S Group, the board passed a letter of intent to use the engineering firm if the project is approved by the Iowa Utilities Board.
Mahaska County would see the 3rd most pipeline in the state, with over 32 miles of pipeline being placed, and I+S Group has six other potentially impacted counties that have signed letters of intent with the firm.
“It’s sort of a paid when paid approach. We will do the work, we will provide Mahaska County with an invoice that itemizes the work that we’ve done. That will be approved by the (Iowa Utilities Board), that will get sent off to Dakota Access, Dakota Access will approve it, they’ll pay Mahaska County, Mahaska County will then pay ISG,” said Del Val.
Also approved by the Board was the 2016 Budget and 5 year construction plan for Mahaska County Secondary Roads.
