Woodbury County supervisors discuss possible CO2 pipeline requirements

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — The battle over the construction of a CO2 pipeline across parts of Iowa is far from being decided . But if one is built, Woodbury County supervisors say they want to guarantee that the pipeline owners leave the land as they found it.

Woodbury County is one of several considering decommissioning requirements. Woodbury County planning and zoning, along with the county’s board of adjustment and legal counsel, are beginning work to put a protection plan in place. The end result would be part of a new ordinance in regards to CO2 pipelines.

Supervisor Jeremy Taylor says decommissioning could include leaving a pipeline in the ground or removing it to monitor and making sure there’s a minimum disturbance to the land.

“Whether it’s been for solar or for wind or now carbon pipelines, we want to make sure that we have real teeth in our language that says ‘this is what you have to do if you’re going to take this land for this purpose,'” Taylor said. “We think this is important because it’s incumbent to bond any company that’s coming. Especially using eminent domain to restore the land to what it was once used for and to preserve it for future generations.”

Over the next several weeks, county officials will draft a standalone ordinance determining what kind of bond companies could be required to provide. A series of public meetings will also take place before an ordinance is brought back to the board for approval.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.