Field services manager hired for pipeline inspection

ISG Field Services has been contracted to conduct county inspections for the Dakota Access pipeline project. The inspections will be done, on behalf of the county, on public and private land affected by the pipeline.

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved ISG services on Tuesday, noting ISG has been used by all counties working with the pipeline throughout the state.

“The county was required after the pipeline was OK’d by the state to hire an engineering firm to make sure that when everything was put back, it was done correctly and meets the agricultural restoration plan,” auditor Dennis Parrott said.

Construction activities inspected by the company include clearing and grading, road bores, topsoil removal and stockpiling, trenching, tile marking and temporary repair, permanent tile repair, backfilling, clean up and restoration of above ground improvement.

“It will mostly be looking at conserving topsoil and looking at the tile lines and making sure everything is put back,” county engineer Russ Stutt said.

ISG will ensure the contractors are following private land agreement made between land owner and Dakota Access and report on any discrepancies. It will also inspect based on the approved Agricultural Restoration Plan approved by the Iowa Utility Board and will provide the county with inspection reports at the end of the project or as requested.

Since ISG is working on behalf of the county, the firm will bill the county, which will then send the bill to Dakota Access. Once Dakota Access has sent payment, the county will send the payment to ISG.

“The county is not out any money, they are not spending any money. It is totally the pipeline paying for it. Instead of paying for it directly, which would make it appear the company is working for the pipeline, the engineering firm will answer to us,” Parrott said.

Jasper County has 33.73 miles of pipeline proposed for the project, which equals about 12 percent of the total project length of 279.21 miles.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com