unnoticeable once construction and restoration is complete, allowing the land to return to its former use." Pipelines are heavily regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation for both safety and reliability, and have proven to be the safest, most efficient means of transporting energy resources. Ness agrees there hasn’t been much controversy over the pipeline. "You will always have some haggling with landowners about easements, but by and large, the Dakota Access Pipeline has had tremendous approval with easements. This is a great win for North Dakota, and a great win for infrastructure of this size and magnitude," says Ness. "This also will reduce rail traffic for shipping oil and that helps the agriculture community shipping their grain on the railroads." If Dakota Access gets approval from Iowa, construction will begin in the spring, pending proper weather and ground conditions. The project is expected to be in service by the fourth quarter of 2016. w BAKKEN OIL REPORT – SPRING 2016
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