Dakota Access Pipeline not making Iowa landowners happy

Three-person Iowa utility board investigating 22 complaints so far

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa — Iowa landowners are raising concerns about construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, saying crews have left behind debris and disrespected their land. 

Some say the state has failed to do enough to protect landowners who now have pipeline running through their property. Dakota Access, however, maintains it has upheld its commitments to landowners.

The Iowa Utilities Board, which is comprised of three people and ultimately decided whether or not the pipeline was to go through Iowa, is in various phases of investigating 22 official complaints filed as of late October but dismissed three complaints this spring. 

Countless others across Iowa also have petitioned county inspectors, supervisors and state regulators, claiming that questionable construction practices are worsening tensions between landowners and Dakota Access LLC, builders of the 1,170-mile pipeline.

A landowner grew so frustrated with Dakota Access Pipeline workers that she delivered a garbage bag to county supervisors that was full of metal debris collected from her fields, reports the Des Moines Register.

Another rancher was so fed up from his cattle repeatedly escaping that he mailed a bill to the pipeline company for the costs of constantly chasing his animals.

Pipeline supporters say the complaints don’t represent major problems. A civil engineer hired by 13 of the 18 counties along the pipeline route says a lot of the complaints aren’t construction agreement violations. 

A spokeswoman for the pipeline’s builder says it takes construction commitments seriously.