County approves pipeline inspection consultant

If Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners plans for a crude oil pipeline are approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, Story County will contract with I&S Group Inc. to inspect topsoil removal and drainage tile damage across the 14 miles of the county the pipeline would cross.

The Mankato, Minn.-based I&S Group, which has an office in Des Moines, was approved to do the work Tuesday by the Story County Board of Supervisors.

Story County is required by Iowa code to carry out the inspection. However, according to the letter of intent approved by the supervisors, the county expects ETP to cover all costs of the inspection services as it has said it will do.

Its beyond our internal manpower to inspect it ourselves, so were hiring a consultant to do it for us, if the pipeline goes, said Darren Moon, county engineer.

Doing business as Dakota Access LLC, ETP has filed a petition with the Iowa Utilities Board for a hazardous liquid pipeline permit. There is no timeline for when the three-member board will make a decision on whether to grant the permit, although ETP has said it plans to have the pipeline operational before the end of 2016.

Should the IUB reject the project, the countys letter of intent with I&S will be considered null and void.

Otherwise, the firm will inspect activities including topsoil removal and stockpiling, drainage tile marking and repair and the digging of trenches as the pipeline is buried underground.

Were not actually inspecting the pipeline installation, were just kind of there for the farmers protection, watching to make sure they fix tile and put the topsoil back properly, Moon said.

Moon said officials from Story and neighboring Boone and Jasper counties have discussed all contracting with I&S so theres continuity over county lines.

The scope of the projects so big, in order for these consultants to get manpower, they need to know far in advance in order to get people on staff, he said.

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County approves pipeline inspection consultant