Branstad undecided on Iowa oil pipeline plans

Gov. Terry Branstad, who supports construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the United States, is uncommitted on the issue of the proposed Bakken Pipeline, which would cut across 17 Iowa counties en route from North Dakota to Illinois.

Branstad told reporters Monday at his weekly Iowa Capitol news briefing that he first learned of plans for the 1,100-mile crude oil pipeline last week from news reports. He said was not aware of the proposal by Energy Transfer Partners, L.P., of Dallas, Texas, when he held a campaign fundraiser last year in Houston.

"I have not taken a position on it. I just want to learn more about it," Branstad said.

Some Iowa activists are vowing to fight the proposed pipeline, which would transport a volatile type of sweet crude oil from the booming oilfields of western North Dakota to Patoka, Ill, where it could be transferred to railroad tank cars for shipment to the East Coast or Midwest, or sent to the Gulf Coast via another pipeline.

Branstad said that the proposed Bakken Pipeline, which would require approvals from the Iowa Utilities Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is different from the proposed Keystone XL pipeline because it would cross land that is more intensively farmed, including Iowa cropland with drainage tiles.

"This is just at the beginning stages," Branstad said. However, he described North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple as a friend and he said "great things are happening" because of the growth of oil production there. He also noted that concerns have been raised about the shipment of Bakken crude oil via railroad because of accidents and spills that have caused deaths and huge fires, and that pipeline transportation is considered safer and more economical.

"There are a lot of things we need to learn about regarding this proposal," Branstad said.

If the pipeline is approved by the Iowa Utilities Board, the pipeline builders could use eminent domain to acquire easements to construct the pipeline through Iowa farmland, according to state officials. Branstad said eminent domain is a "controversial subject" but it can be warranted for a public purpose such as construction pipelines, roads or bridges. He said he prefers to see land acquired through negotiation in agreement between willing sellers and willing buyers.

"I think it should be used on only a very limited" basis," Branstad said.

State Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, who is opposing Branstad in the campaign for governor this fall, said Monday he has many questions about the Bakken Pipeline project, including whether it would be the best use of land and whether county supervisors should have a role in the process.

Hatch's campaign manager Grant Woodard issued a statement after Branstad's news conference with a headline claiming that the Republican governor supports the use of eminent domain for "Big oil's pipeline across Iowa."

Woodard said Branstad should tell the Republican Governors Association to stop running television advertisements in Iowa that he contends that falsely attack Hatch for taking the position Branstad is taking.