As with the Ameren transmission line, the Dakota Access Pipeline and (it is expected) the Grain Belt Express HVDC transmission line will seek a Certificate of Necessity from the Illinois Commerce Commission. This expedited method employed by utilities significantly compresses regulatory oversight of the project.

 

It gives landowners less time to respond to project routing and, as we saw with the Ameren case, can significantly shift the 'preferred' route to an alternate route. This puts landowners at a clear disadvantage because of the compressed ICC review process.

 

A few considerations:

1. Know your rights as a landowner.

2. Don't feel pressured to sign an easement-even though the utility's land agent waves money in your face.

3. Before you sign any easement, get qualified legal advice.

4. Better yet, pool with other landowners and get group legal representation.

And a repeat of #1 above, know your rights as a landowner. Below are a couple of presentations made at landowner meetings in the past. Take time to read over them.

 

Additionally, the Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus will hold landowner meetings with the Illinois Farm Bureau to review your rights and bring you up-to-date on the projects.

 

Link to 2013 presentation. 

 

Link to 2015 Pipeline Presentation 

 

Thanks for your calls.

The Agriculture Gallery at the Saint Louis Science Center-All of us have a role in the stewardship of our food supply, today and in the future!

 

Population estimations project the world's population will continue to grow at an astounding rate, surpassing nine billion people by the year 20501. There is now emerging a global consensus that cultivating an ample food supply to feed this expanding population will be Earth's greatest challenge of the century. While the efforts of today's agriculture industry play a key role in feeding the world, it is tomorrow's farmers, scientists, and engineers - today's youth - who will lead the industry, and through innovation, undertake this challenge.

 

The Agriculture Gallery at the Saint Louis Science Center will ignite widespread interest in the future of our food supply and inspire the next generation of farmers, scientists, engineers and agriculture professionals. The Agriculture Gallery is a one acre indoor/outdoor space with interactive exhibits and activities, a greenhouse, and classrooms for public programming.

 

The Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus have both pledged $1,000 toward the project.

 

DONATE NOW

 

"We send a lot of pork to Pacific Rim countries, and slowdowns in shipments to those markets have started to be felt by the industry. You can get away with a slowdown for a while, but when cold storage starts to fill up and production is still coming along and needing a home, it gets to be a real problem," said Anderson.

 

Link to podcast