Carbon pipeline company takes unwilling Iowa landowners to court

by Jared Sturdy

Navigator CO2 Ventures, one in every of three firms which have proposed liquid carbon pipelines in Iowa, not too long ago sued 4 units of landowners to achieve entry to their properties to survey the land, based on courtroom data.

The corporate filed petitions in August for injunctive reduction towards landowners in Butler, Clay and Woodbury counties. The corporate claims the landowners have repeatedly refused to grant entry to their properties and alleged bodily threats towards the corporate’s land brokers, whose surveys will assist the corporate decide the trail of the pipeline.

“Get off my land earlier than I let the canine go,” a partner of one of many landowners allegedly advised one of many brokers, who interpreted the girl’s phrases as a bodily risk, courtroom data present.

In a special county, a landowner’s tenant “almost ran over” one other agent, Navigator alleges.

In its petitions, Navigator cites Iowa legislation that claims “a pipeline firm might enter upon non-public land for the aim of surveying and analyzing the land to find out route or depth of a pipeline by giving ten days’ written discover.”

The legislation continues: “The entry for land surveys … shall not be deemed a trespass and could also be aided by injunction.”

The potential pipelines have drawn fierce resistance from landowners, county officers, conservationists and others, particularly due to the potential use of eminent area to construct them regardless of landowners’ objections.

The businesses purpose to move captured carbon dioxide from ethanol crops to be sequestered underground in different states. The initiatives search to capitalize on billions of {dollars} of federal incentives to chop greenhouse gasoline emissions.

Andy Bates, a Navigator spokesperson, declined to touch upon the courtroom petitions and whether or not the corporate would possibly file extra. He additionally declined to disclose the share of the roughly 800-mile route for which the corporate has signed voluntary easements with landowners.

“We’re making progress on easements and are signing further tracts every single day,” Bates stated.

One other firm, Summit Carbon Options, has stated it has permission for about 40% of its route by Iowa. A Summit spokesperson didn’t reply to a request to remark about its potential litigation with landowners.

Summit is additional alongside within the course of to achieve a hazardous liquid pipeline allow from state regulators. It and Navigator had held required public conferences beginning late final yr in every of the affected counties. By legislation, these conferences should precede the land surveys and negotiations with landowners.

In June, Navigator altered its route and is within the strategy of holding new conferences in counties the place the adjustments occurred. These conferences have been set to conclude later this month.

In every of the 4 district courtroom actions, Navigator seeks courtroom orders to stop landowners from interfering with the surveys and assist from sheriff’s places of work to make sure entry to the properties is “well timed and safely offered.”

The petitions have been filed towards Dennis Hart in Butler County, R.V. Hassman L.P. in Butler County, William and Vicki Hulse in Woodbury County, and Martin Koenig in Clay County.

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