116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Linn County supervisors restart consideration of pipeline rules
Drafting of ordinance comes as C02 pipeline is proposed in Eastern Iowa
CEDAR RAPIDS — The Linn County Board of Supervisors will start from scratch on its consideration of an ordinance governing how close to structures a hazardous pipeline could be built.
The supervisors agreed Wednesday to send a proposed ordinance back to the Planning and Zoning Commission where the panel will consider changes addressing supervisors’ concerns about the regulation of pipelines, including a carbon-capture pipeline proposed by Wolf Carbon Solutions that would go through Linn County and other parts of Eastern Iowa.
“Changes will be substantial enough to warrant going back to the Planning and Zoning Commission,” Planning and Development Director Charlie Nichols said.
In December, the three supervisors unanimously postponed voting on the ordinance to make extra safety considerations after members of the public voiced concerns with the proposal at the time and its setback waivers for dwellings and future growth areas.
Supervisors expressed concerns about:
- Blanket setback waiver going down to 300 feet with Iowa Utilities Board permit
- The equipment and knowledge capacity of local emergency personnel to deal with the pipelines
- Pipelines are new technology, so disaster scenarios still need research
- Impacts of the route through future growth areas
- Impact on agricultural and land restoration
- Ecological disruptions from the pipeline going through county conservation areas
To address those concerns, Nichols said ordinance changes discussed include:
- Setback requirements
- Pipeline consultation zones, or areas where people within that zone would receive regular proactive communication from the pipeline operator to boost emergency preparedness
- Increasing agricultural land restoration standards
- Providing for emergency management response capacity
- Avoidance and mitigation of damage to public infrastructure, such as streets
- Increase construction inspection responsibility
- Application submittal requirements to receive more information upfront
“I have no personal problem with going back to square one and starting over and making it better,” Supervisor Louie Zumbach said.
The ordinance is being drafted as Wolf Carbon Solutions is seeking permission from the Iowa Utilities Board for a 280-mile carbon dioxide sequestration pipeline through Eastern Iowa, including Linn County, to connect ADM ethanol plants and others.
“We are not able to outlaw a pipeline coming through, but we are able to set some parameters around safety of our citizens and our land,” Supervisor Kirsten Running-Marquardt said.
Supervisor Ben Rogers said sending the ordinance back to the Planning and Zoning Commission makes sense from a process and public engagement standpoint. That way, citizens for and against the pipeline or those who will be affected by its placement can have a two-way dialogue with the board.
“We want to do this correctly,” Rogers said. “We want to do this open and transparent as possible.”
Comments: (319) 398-8494; marissa.payne@thegazette.com
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