Keith Puntenney
Boone
I am one of approximately 1,200-plus effected landowners along the proposed Dakota Access route. My land is in Boone and Webster counties. This is some of the best farmland in Iowa. I have managed this land since 1974, when my father passed away. Over the years, there has been major investments made for tile, removal of outdated buildings and fences, plus adding a modern grain storage and drying facility. My farms are surrounded by five ethanol plants, which is where my grain is sold. For more than 32 years, I was also an IRS Estate and Gift Tax Attorney (Federal) and traveled two-thirds of Iowa in that job. I have seen first hand the huge investments of time, labor, and money, on farms, as they were passed between generations to become what we call “Century Farms.”
I am “fighting” Dakota Access, first, because it wants to use eminent domain to force property owners along the route to grant an easement. This pipeline has no benefit to Iowa as it is only a conduit to save rail costs (which will be in the billions of dollars), none of which will come to landowners as payments.
Second, there is no “public purpose,” as required by the Iowa Code since this is a solely private development.
Third, this line traverses the best farmland in Iowa and when, not if, there is a spill this will cause environmental damage to our land, water, air, wildlife, recreation and quality of life for those effected by any spill that will cost millions and take scores of years to mitigate.
Look only to the BP spill in the gulf ($28 billion and ongoing), and the Exon Valdese spill along Alaska ($12 billion-plus). In 2014, there were more than 7,000 oil spills from pipelines, ship, trains, etc. and that number is vastly understated as spills at drilling sites are often never reported.
Fourth, climate change and global warming are real. We are in a new paradime where carbon based fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) no longer are sustainable if the earth is to survive. Every day we receive enough solar energy to power all our electric needs. What was missing was the means to store this energy. We now have that.
Fifth, I want to leave the planet better for my children, grandchildren and other heirs. It is my responsibility to help clean up the mess we are now in, not just pass it on to others. That is called legacy, and I still have a voice in how I continue to live. As a disabled Vietnam veteran I know life can be sometimes hard. But those are the choices we all make, every day, and mine is to get involved.
Please join me in this fight. The health of the planet we leave to our family and heirs is literally at stake if nothing is done now.