Please follow Ed Fallon’s walk across Iowa along the route of the proposed Bakken Oil Pipeline.  Go to http://fallonforum.com/pipeline-walk/   

For the latest Iowa Pipeline Walk route and schedule detail click here.  Help this information reach more Iowans. Please like and share.  You can also follow on Facebook or get e-mail updates.

Iowa Pipeline Walk: Day Thirteen

by Ed Fallon

Saturday, March 14, 2015 – Mahaska/Jasper County line

Toady marks 150 miles of walking as I step into the seventh county along the pipeline route. A heartfelt “Thank you!” to State Rep. Dan Kelley and Kathy Holdefer (a landowner near Mingo), who each organized a meeting today with landowners and other concerned Jasper County residents.

At a 7:00 a.m. meeting at Uncle Nancy’s on the Newton town square, Dan spoke about his strong opposition to the pipeline. He has introduced legislation and also signed a letter from 15 lawmakers to the Iowa Utilities Board calling for an environmental impact assessment.

Today, Dan surprised me with a new angle that throws a whole new wrinkle into the pipeline conversation.

Apparently, no one had ever asked the Iowa Utilities Board’s staff if there already existed in Iowa another oil pipeline. Dan asked, and was told that there was, indeed, one other crude oil pipeline running through Iowa.

This pipeline travels north-south, roughly following I-35. It was built in the 1950s and is now owned by the infamous Koch Brothers. It was mothballed in 2013.

“I don’t want an oil pipeline running through Iowa,” said Dan. “But if Dakota Access wants to build one, why tear-up farmland diagonally across Iowa when there’s already an established right of way?”

This begs so many additional questions. Where did the oil transported through this pipeline come from? What was its final destination? Who were the original owners? How long have the Koch Brothers owned it? Were there ever any leaks or accidents? How many gallons a day did it move? Why was it abandoned in 2013? Why hasn’t Dakota Access considered using this route?

Dan and I will talk about this on today’s Fallon Forum at 11:00. Also, State Rep. John Forbes joins Dan with talk about industrial hemp. What would it do for Iowa’s economy? And find out why John feels industrial hemp is also good for the environment.

Catch the Fallon Forum live on Monday from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon on KDLF 1260 AM (Des Moines)   Join the conversation by calling in at (515) 528-8122. And you can hear the Fallon Forum on KHOI 89.1 FM (Ames) at 4:00 pm on Wednesday and on KPVL 89.1 FM (Postville) at 7:00 pm on Wednesday.

Thanks! – Ed Fallon

EVENTS CALENDAR

March 2 – April 22 (Earth Day) – Iowa Pipeline Walk
Ed Fallon will walk over 400 miles following the proposed path of the Bakken Oil Pipeline to help landowners opposed to having their land taken by eminent domain – an area of law Ed worked on extensively while a state lawmaker. Ed will also discuss the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to protect our water. For information on the route, click here. Contact fallonforum@gmail.com.

March 16 – Meeting to discuss the Bakken Oil Pipeline (Farrar)
A public meeting for residents of Polk County at the United Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m. to meet with Ed Fallon to discuss concerns about eminent domain, climate change, water quality and related issues during Ed’s 400-mile walk along the proposed route of the Bakken Oil Pipeline. Contact Peter Clay at peterclay1@me.com.

March 18 – Meeting to discuss the Bakken Oil Pipeline (Ames)
A public meeting for residents of Story County at the Ames Public Library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. to meet with Ed Fallon to discuss concerns about eminent domain, climate change, water quality and related issues during Ed’s 400-mile walk along the proposed route of the Bakken Oil Pipeline. Contact Susan Franzen at susan.franzen66@gmail.com.

March 27 – April 12 – Climate Action Across America
Congress will be on Easter recess, or home for district work periods, for these 17 days this spring. Please call your Congressional representatives and Senators to arrange a time to meet with them about the need for climate action.