State Regulators Deny Tribe’s Request for Environmental Impact Study of Carbon Capture Pipeline

Iowa Utilities Board denies Winnebago Tribe’s request for environmental study of CO2 pipelines

DES MOINES — The Iowa Utilities Board on Friday denied the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s request for an environmental impact study along the proposed route of a liquid carbon dioxide pipeline that would run near the tribe’s lands.

The IUB in its ruling said an independent environmental study is not legally required and is unnecessary because Navigator Heartland Greenway will need to meet several environmental requirements during the process of seeking a hazardous liquid pipeline permit.

“… meeting the requirements for permits and authorizations from other state and federal agencies are sufficient to address any environmental issues raised during the proceeding,” the IUB said.

Heartland will be required to show during the permitting process how it will address environmental permits and authorizations needed to build the pipelines. Other parties also will be able to file testimony and exhibits in response to the company’s evidence. The board will consider all that evidence when deciding whether to grant a permit for the pipeline.

The Winnebago Tribal Council in June asked the IUB, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors and Dakota County Board of Commissioners, to require an environmental study be done before permits for the pipeline are issued.

“The Winnebago Tribe has consistently opposed the issuance of pipeline permits that could negatively impact our lands or water. … An Environmental Impact Study would outline the effects of the proposed pipelines on the environment and should provide sufficient information to evaluate the relative merits of the proposed pipelines and alternatives. The permit-issuing bodies cannot make reasoned or informed decisions without this information. Nor can the general public,” the Tribal Council said in its resolution seeking the study.

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