Letter: Bakken pipeline benefits only a few

Authorization for taking private property away from individual landowners and allowing an out-of-state limited liability corporation (LLC) to use their land for the company's profit was given by the Iowa Utilities Board. This land grab required the agreement of only two of the three hand-picked, politically appointed people by the governor on the board.

An LLC means the company may or may not have any assets and therefore their liability is limited. Dakota Access LLC testified at the Iowa Utilities Board hearing that it is a 'pass through” entity with virtually no assets. At the proposed pumping rate this pipeline will pass through about 24 million gallons of toxic crude per day. Say at $1 dollar a gallon that's $24 million a day for an LLC company to move this oil through Iowa and overseas to the world market. What does Iowa get for this?

It could also pump 1 million gallons an hour into Iowa's public water bodies and invaluable soil. This is clearly a rigged game for the benefit of a few. It does not serve the public convenience as required by state law and actually threatens the common good. It does undermine our faith in this government to protect and serve the people.

Mark Edwards

Boone