IA HSB691

Pipeline companies must pay landowners for right of entry, crop damages, and all damages from construction including soil erosion, settling, wash damage, and disturbances to farming operations.

Damage claims cannot be barred from renegotiation under section 6B.52 simply because damages were apparent at settlement or because more than five years have elapsed since settlement.

Landowners or crop owners may file damage claims in small claims court or district court, or pursue remedies through the Iowa Utilities Commission under sections 479.45 or 479.46.

Compensable losses explicitly include crop yield losses, fertilizer costs for restoration, tree damage, livestock losses, erosion, soil compaction, farm equipment damage from striking pipelines, and damage to conservation structures like terraces and drainage systems.

County boards of supervisors or affected landowners may petition the commission for corrective action orders and file complaints seeking civil penalties when pipeline companies fail to comply with land restoration requirements.