The Wright County Planning and Zoning Commission will be meeting next month to possibly approve new setbacks for pipelines carrying hazardous materials.
The commission’s March 14 meeting was attended by a number of residents as well as two officials from Summit Carbon Solutions. P&Z Administrator Jeremy Abbas characterized the meeting as “fairly productive” with Summit officials answering a number of questions. Abbas said the commissioners want more information, including setbacks in other counties, before coming to a decision about possible changes and additions to county regulations. He added that the commission plans on meeting again soon – possibly April 11 – after one of the members returns to Iowa
A public notice about the meeting will be published in the county newspapers.
Supervisor Dean Kluss met last week with the attorneys and supervisors from several other counties where the pipeline project is proposed. He said there was discussion on what distance will be enough for setbacks.
Kluss said March 18 he would like a setback of 3,000 feet, based on testimony about the effects on the human body during an accident that is classified as a level 3 or 4. But he added, “I think the distance will be something less that 3,000 feet.”
Kluss also talked about some changes that could impact Summit’s pipeline project. Fourteen ethanol plants owned by POET and Valero have been added to the project. There was a “flurry of filings” to the Iowa Utilities Board March 14 when the additions were announced. The IUB was expected to make a decision on the use of eminent domain on property owners who refused to sign easements with Summit in April. But perhaps that decision will be delayed as the IUB considers the addition of 14 more ethanol plants.
Some of the questions include:
• Will the pipes have to be bigger to handle the additional liquid carbon? The new easements that Summit asked for called for pipes up 16 inches in diameter. It was previously estimated that the liquified carbon dioxide would need only 8 to 10 inch pipes.
• Instead of bigger pipes, will the hazardous liquid be transported under great pressure? If so, how accurate are the plume studies which show the spread of the liquid carbon if there is an accident?
The IUB issued a letter March 14 asking Summit to provide alternative dates for informational meetings (which had been scheduled for April 22 through May 9 in 22 locations). Two of the three members of the IUB want the meetings pushed back until June. That request has led to speculation that the IUB ruling will not be announced in April.
