199—13.3 (479B) Informational meetings.  Informational meetings shall be held for any proposed pipeline project over five miles in length, including both the current project and future anticipated extensions, and which is to be operated at a pressure of over 150 pounds per square inch. A separate informational meeting shall be held in each county in which real property or rights therein would be affected. Informational meetings shall be held not less than 30 days nor more than two years prior to the filing of the petition for pipeline permit and shall comply with the following:
	 13.3(1) Facilities. Prospective petitioners for a permit shall be responsible for all negotiations and compensation for a suitable facility to be used for each informational meeting, including but not limited to a building or facility which is in substantial compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines, Chapter 4, where such a building or facility is reasonably available.
	 13.3(2) Location. The informational meeting location shall be reasonably accessible to all persons, companies or corporations which may be affected by the granting of a permit.
	 13.3(3) Route deviation. Prospective petitioners desiring a route corridor to permit minor route deviations beyond the proposed permanent right-of-way width shall include as affected all parties within the desired corridor. Prospective petitioners may also provide notice to affected parties on alternative route corridors.
	 13.3(4) Notices. Announcement by mailed and published notice of the meeting shall be given to affected parties of interest in real estate. Affected parties of interest in real estate are those persons, companies or corporations listed on the tax assessment rolls as responsible for payment of real estate taxes and parties in possession of or residing on the property over which the prospective petitioner will seek easements.
	  a.   	 The meeting notice shall state the name of the prospective petitioner; state the address of the prospective petitioner’s principal place of business; state the general description and purpose of the proposed project; state the general nature of the right-of-way desired; include a map showing the proposed route; advise that the affected party has the right to be present at the informational meeting and to file objections with the board; contain the following statement: “Persons with disabilities requiring assistive services or devices to observe or participate should contact the Utilities Board at (515)281-5256 in advance of the scheduled date to request that appropriate arrangements be made”; and designate the date, time, and place of the meeting. Mailed notices shall also include a copy of the statement of damage claims as required by 13.2(3)“b.”
	  b.   	 The prospective petitioner shall cause a written copy of the meeting notice to be served, by certified United States mail with return receipt requested, on all affected parties whose addresses are known. The certified meeting notice shall be deposited in the U.S. mails not less than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.
	  c.   	 The prospective petitioner shall cause the meeting notice, including the map, to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least one week and not more than three weeks prior to the date of the meeting. Publication shall be considered as notice to affected parties whose residence is not known provided a good faith effort to notify can be demonstrated by the pipeline company.
	 13.3(5) Personnel. The prospective petitioner shall provide qualified personnel to speak for it in matters relating to the following:
	  a.   	 The purpose of and need for the proposed project.
	  b.   	 When the pipeline will be constructed.
	  c.   	 In general terms, the elements involved in pipeline construction.
	  d.   	 In general terms, the rights which the prospective petitioner will seek to acquire through easements.
	  e.   	 Procedures to be followed in contacting affected parties for specific negotiations in acquiring voluntary easements.
	  f.   	 Methods and factors used in arriving at an offered price for voluntary easements including the range of cash amount for each component.
	  g.   	 Manner in which voluntary easement payments are made, including discussion of conditional easements, signing fees and time of payment.
	  h.   	 Other factors or damages not included in the easement for which compensation is made, including features of interest to affected parties but not limited to computation of amounts and manner of payment.
	 13.3(6) Coordinating with board. The date, time, and location of the informational meeting shall be selected after consultation with the board to allow for scheduling of presiding officers.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 479B.4.