LETTER: Do NOT sign easements with pipeline companies

LEARN MORE!

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Iowa legislators pulled an eminent domain bill before it got to the floor, but say they will call a special session to protect landowner rights if a large number of easements are not signed.  The legislation could also be brought to the Ways and Means Committee or added to another Bill in this session. Meanwhile, CO2 pipeline companies are working feverishly to get my fellow landowners to sign easements. What Summit won’t tell you:

1. Landowners are liable if a pipeline ruptures. Verify, in writing, from your insurance company if you are covered, or could even get coverage.
2. CRP land; FSA offices are telling landowners they will have to pay back money if the landowner signs a voluntary easement, and their land will no longer be allowed in the program.
3. You lose what you want to do above, on, and under your land, within legal context, forever.
4. There is no guarantee pipelines will help ethanol meet low carbon fuel markets.
5. There are other ways to reduce ethanol’s carbon footprint.  Ethanol plants can capture and sell carbon dioxide without using massive taxpayer dollars to fund pipelines.
6. The permit for carbon underground storage in North Dakota has not been approved, nor the pipeline in any of the states between North Dakota and Iowa.
7. Safety concerns; there has never been a CO2 pipeline of this length and high pressure.
8. You may get more money from the Iowa condemnation process, than from a voluntary easement.
9. The easement has been legally reviewed, it favors Summit, not the landowner.

To stop the pipelines, object to your state senator, representative, Governor Reynolds, and the Iowa Utility Board. The IUB states, all landowners who do not write objections through email or letter, will be considered pro-pipeline. Most importantly, DO NOT SIGN EASEMENTS

Deb Lavalle

Hardin Co. Landowner

Author: Letter To the editor