Stockdale testifies before the IUC/SCS Informational Mtg, Iowa Falls, Iowa

Kathy Stockdale
23 Feb 2025

Could Iowa Falls Be the Next Satartia?

On February 10 Summit Carbon Solutions filed for permit, HLP-2024-0002, to the Iowa Utilities Commission for a lateral C02 pipeline in Hardin and Hamilton Counties to connect to their original route . One of the main changes I noticed in this application from what they had previously filed was that they are now leaving the Poet Ethanol Plant in Iowa Falls to the North closer to Iowa Falls, where before they were leaving to the South.

In January , the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHSMA) came out with some new proposed regulations for C02 pipelines. One of those recommendations is that a C02 pipeline company would need to notify everyone within a 2 mile radius of the pipeline that they were in a danger zone. Clearly PHSMA recognizes that this pipeline is dangerous . Going to Summit’s KMZ that is filed in the docket and looking at it on Google earth I made a one mile and a two mile circle. Within that one mile radius would be:Midland,The Equine Center, HyVee, Hospital, Casey Central,Walmart, The Thrift Store, Pineview Elementary, The Coffee Attic, Police and Fire Stations. The other Iowa Falls schools, Ellsworth College and the town all the way to the blacktop north of town is in the two mile radius. North of town would also be included in the 2 mile radius from the original line in Franklin County.

So should you be concerned? YES!!!!!!

A lot will depend on the type of leak, topography, weather conditions and where the leak happens. What make it so dangerous is because it is highly pressurized. In Sataria,Mississippi it was under so much pressure it caused a 40ft crevice. The plume traveled for 7 miles. Several people are still suffering from being exposed in Satartia I have personally met a couple of these victims and first responders (Look up The Gassing of Sataria on the Web https://freesoilfoundation.com/the-gassing-of-satartia/) C02 causes asphyxiation, which means it takes the oxygen out of the air. so you can’t breath and can cause brain damage. In some cases death within 5 minutes. Gas engines will also not work.( no emergency vehicles will work)

In November there was a small leak at a valve in Suphur,Louisiana. Everyone within a quarter mile was required to shelter in place for several hours. So what does it mean to shelter in place? It means you stay wherever you are, close up your building as tightly as you can, shut off heat, air and anything else running and go the highest place in the house or building. . DO NOT GO TO THE BASEMENT! Remember C02 is heavier than air. One thing to consider in Iowa Falls is also that all of our emergency services could be in the shelter in place and not be able to help. The nearest Hazmat Unit for us is in Waterloo.

Things we still don’t know is how much danger there would be if they had a breakdown or rupture in the capture facility itself. What we do know is that the capture facility will use a lot of water. The POET plant, according to the DNR website, has a permit to use 525 million gallons of water a year. In 2023 they used 347.75 million gallons and in 2024 they used 293.78 million gallons. It have been told that they also tap into Iowa Falls water permit that is for 36 million gallons a year. In 2023 Iowa Falls used 27.06 gallons and in 2024 31.32 millions gallons. We have been told that a capture facility may use up to 1/4 the amount of water that the ethanol plant uses Taking their last two years of usage and adding a fourth more puts them using 367.225-434.69 million gallons of water per year. This may be a concern to Iowa Falls having heard one of their biggest obstacles of getting businesses into the industrial park is lack of water.

For those of you being approached by Summit for an easement, I ask you to consider how you would feel if you signed an easement and a rupture affected your family, your neighbors or the town of Iowa Falls, Eldora, Buckeye, Steamboat Rock, or Jewell? Would the amount of money they offered you be worth it? Do not be threatened by the fear of eminent domain. They have openly said the land agents will not explain the dangers of this pipeline in their negotiations If you have a Navigator Option that Summit has acquired, remember it is an option, not an easement. Many of those will be expiring soon.. I have heard that land agents have been approaching you to try to negotiate a final payment which would make it an easement. I have even heard they are already threatening you with eminent domain.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TALK TO LAND AGENTS!!!! You can have them charged with trespassing after telling them not to come to your farm.

Summit is a long ways away from being able to even think about putting a pipeline in the ground. They still need approval from South Dakota, and there are several lawsuits in Iowa, North and South Dakota that need to be heard. Let your options expire. If it goes to eminent domain, the IUC in both the Dakota Access and in the original Summit application, requires Summit to offer their highest offer to the landowner. You have until the day it goes to the compensation board to sign or not sign.

Not signing an easement is the best way to stop this pipeline.

I encourage you to sign up with Domina Law, through the website: https://www.iaeasement.org

Call our County Supervisors and ask them to intervene in the docket as they did on the original route.

Ask Iowa Falls to intervene and write an objection to the IUC against the pipeline.  Several towns already have. Charles City has even joined in the lawsuit against the IUC decision. It is going through their economic development area.

Intervene as a landowner in the docket.
Contact Senator Sweeney, Representative Josh Meggers and Governor Reynolds and say you don’t want the pipeline.

Come lobby with us at the capital.
Join us for a NO C02 Pipeline Rally in the capital Rotunda on March 5 from 9-12.

It appears Bruce Rastetter, Summit Carbon Solutions, Summit Ag and Poet, care more about making money using our taxpayer money and taking away our personal property rights, than the safety of Hardin County Landowners, Iowa Falls, Eldora, Steamboat Rock and Buckeye.

Any questions email me at kartstock@gmail.com

Kathy Stockdale
Hardin Co Iowa Landowner
FreeSoil Foundation Advisory Board

Courtesy of Kathy Stockdale,   first circle equals one mile radius, second equals two miles radius.

Pdf of map! MILE 2