Bold Iowa Blasts Dakota Access For Attempting to Bypass Corps

Des Moines — In response to a request made this morning by Dakota Access to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), asking the IUB to allow it to begin construction without waiting for final permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, Bold Iowa issued its own response to the IUB challenging the legitimacy and even legality of Dakota Access’ request.

“Throughout this process, Dakota Access has bullied landowners,” said Bold Iowa director, Ed Fallon. “Now they are trying to bully the IUB. In doing so, they’re hoping for an end-run around the Army Corps of Engineers — the entity rightfully charged with a full, objective analysis of the wide range of potential impacts of this pipeline.”

The Corps just recently reassured all parties that it was neither pro- nor anti-pipeline, making it clear that it intends to fulfill its responsibility to the Corps’ stated mission to protect and manage the nation’s water and land resources with a blind eye to political consequences. Nonetheless, the Corps has come under strong criticism in recent months for failing to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed pipeline. Some of the strongest critics have been the Tribal Nations who live along the path of the pipeline, who argue that the Corps has largely ignored them.

“Bold Iowa certainly has an opinion about the Bakken Pipeline,” concluded Fallon. “We don’t want it. And we stand with tribes, landowners, farmers and environmentalists against it. But above all, we expect a fair and open process. Many of Dakota Access’ tactics over the past two years amount to bullying, and we trust that the IUB will stand its ground, and stick with its earlier decision to require ALL permits to be complete before Dakota Access can begin construction.”

Bold Iowa is part of the Bold Alliance, a newly-formed grassroots effort in four states, building unlikely alliances to oppose the expansion of fossil-fuel infrastructure, protect landowners against the abuse of eminent domain, and encourage investment in renewable energy.

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