Reject pipeline to protect environment

To the editor:

Thanks to The Gazette for its Nov. 12 article 'Inexperienced board confronts Bakken controversy” and the same day editorial 'Bakken hearing: Many want to be heard.” The Gazette's thorough, in depth coverage of this issue has played an important role informing the public on a shockingly speedy, almost secret review of this controversial project.

I've followed this from the start and offered public comment at the Iowa Utility Board hearing in Boone. It seems to me and many others that this inexperienced, unelected board is ill equipped and unprepared to deal with a project of this importance.

Throughout this process thousands of Iowans, many civic groups and 15 state legislators have asked them to slow down and use due diligence to properly review the environmental and economic costs and consequences of the pipeline. They refused every time. Multiple public hearing sites or days to hear concerns? Nope! That's why many of us fear the fix is in and the board has already decided.

It's up to them to prove us wrong and act in the best interest of all Iowans to protect our land, water, wildlife and way of life and reject this pipeline.

Tom Mohan

Cedar Rapids