Procurement News Notice |
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| PNN | 3459 |
| Work Detail | The Iowa Utilities Board voted unanimously at a hearing Thursday to deny a stay over the Bakken pipeline involving more than a dozen land parcels where owners are fighting to stop construction. Hundreds of pipeline construction workers packed into the meeting Thursday morning that stretched into the afternoon hours. There was a temporary stop on construction until Monday but the board met Thursday to hear arguments from Texas-based Dakota Access and the landowners on whether to order a more permanent delay, which it denied. In addition to the issue before the Utilities Board, the landowners have filed a lawsuit that challenges the board's authority to allow eminent domain takeover of their land for a privately owned pipeline project. That suit has not come before a judge yet. The $3.8 billion pipeline has generated legal challenges and protests in North Dakota and Iowa. Workers on the pipeline said the delays are affecting their families. "That means their kids can't go to the doctor, their wives can't go to the grocery store, so it's going to make it tough," said Richie Schmidt, LiUNA spokesman. Lawyers for the landowners want the stay so that a judge can rule on whether the state can take private land for projects like the Bakken oil pipeline. Lawyers for the pipeline said the landowners shouldn't be able to request a stay when construction has already started. "Procedurally, everything they've done is wrong. They've been told that repeatedly. They should be out of options," said Bret Dublinske, attorney for Dakota Access. Some workers are frustrated that the legal debate is still happening. A union spokesman said workers aren't getting paid and it's affecting their families. "We're a little perplexed. This was a project that was approved and now somehow it's being unapproved and will it be approved again? We don't know that," said Schmidt. The board adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and will meet again Friday afternoon. It gave no indication when it would vote. During the meeting a group came in with crates of corn in protest and were asked to leave. They didn't say anything and left quickly and quietly. |
| Country | United States , Northern America |
| Industry | Construction |
| Entry Date | 03 Sep 2016 |
| Source | http://www.kcci.com/news/people-packing-bakken-pipeline-hearing-right-now/41366094 |
