Tell lawmakers to say no to pipeline

To the editor:

The Bakken Pipeline enters the northwest corner of Iowa and goes out the southeast corner. How many streams and rivers does it cross? I haven't heard anyone say who has responsibility if it breaks. It's just a matter of when and how much oil it will leak. The line carries 570,000 gallons of oil each day, so it could leak 23,000 gallons of oil an hour.

Do the people of Iowa want to pollute their streams and rivers and groundwater with this oil? If you don't think fresh water is important, ask the people of California. We have more oil than we have fresh water. If you think the oil company will clean up the spill, talk to the people of the Louisiana Gulf Coast.

If you agree with me, contact your state representatives, senators, the governor's office or write a letter to the Iowa Utilities Board at 1375 E. Court Ave., Des Moines, IA 50319. Tell them to do the right thing for the people of Iowa and say 'no” to the Bakken Pipeline. We have enough pollution in Iowa without adding more.

Tom Ratchford

Independence