Meeting Public Comments

Nancy Dugan [Select your title]

HF 610 reads as follows:Section 476.33, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:NEW SUBSECTION. 5. The following persons are entitled as of right to intervene in any proceeding conducted by the commission:a. A member of the general assembly.b. An elected county or city official.c. Any resident with a minimally plausible interest in the proceeding.During a landowners' zoom meeting, Sierra Club staff person Jess Mazour advocated for this bill, indicating to attendees that it would expand rights to intervene. See 25:10 minute mark: https://sierraclub.zoom.us/rec/play/l34CcnmMYZIrKvoUpJh0Hsa6H9CmgNMKIklpr0y7sRtNjVhmVlt7EuVopqlfg6KPS6tpZ6TJ1qxFex0.TejoqnapA157TfB?accessLevel=meeting&canPlayFromShare=true&from=sharerecordingdetail&continueMode=true&componentName=recplay&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fsierraclub.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2F7NqH0rJxtIwvt5tVfAys1hvRwI0r5sOTrJOuvMwqwIMpR9LdguHDsAiSQLnik2m.giTxRNNohvpzAUg Sierra Club is registered for this bill.IAC 1997.13 governs intervention at present. See this link: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/aco/arc/7939C.pdfI believe HF 610 narrows intervention rather than expanding it and would exclude entities such as the Sierra Club and other nonprofits. I am also concerned that the phrase "minimally plausible interest in the proceeding" could be construed to limit participation to those with a financial interest in a proceeding. Additionally, I am concerned that landowners who may be directly affected by this bill may have been provided inaccurate information, whether wittingly or unwittingly.Yesterday, Sierra Club attorney Wally Taylor submitted a brief regarding Scheduling and Location of Contested Case Hearing. You can see that here: https://efs.iowa.gov/filing/5266630In the brief, the following statement appears: "Also, to attain justice, persons who have a justifiable interest in the case, as described in 199 I.A.C. 7.13(3), should be allowed to intervene, such as nearbylandowners who could be impacted by a pipeline rupture, even though Summit is notseeking an easement on their land. Or entities that have a policy interest in the outcome ofthe case, such as Sierra Club or state legislators, should be allowed to intervene. Suchintervention would ensure that justice is done."Ms. Mazour assured attendees at the zoom meeting that she would work with Charley Thomson to ensure that the language was "tweaked." This meeting likely took place a week or more ago. The bill language has not been changed.