Linh Ta

lta@dmreg.com

A suspect burned a hole into the Dakota Access Pipeline in Mahaska County, according to the sheriff's office.

On March 13, an employee with the Dakota Access Pipeline reported the damage to the sheriff's office. It occurred near the 2300 block of Queens Avenue in Oskaloosa.

Mahaska County Sheriff Russ VanRenterghem said someone took a blowtorch to the pipeline and burned a hole in it. He said the portion that was damaged was above ground and surrounded by a security fence with wire. The burned portion was a safety valve used to shut off that portion of the pipeline if a leak occurred, he said.

The vandalism occurred sometime between March 3 and 13.

Though there was no oil in the pipeline, he said it was pressurized with nitrogen gas.

"We haven’t identified a suspect," said VanRenterghem. "I couldn’t tell if it was someone wanting to punch a hole through the pipeline or if it was a form of protest."

The Dakota Access Pipeline has a 346-mile path through 18 Iowa counties. The 30-inch diameter pipeline will transport about 470,000 barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota's Bakken oil patch to a distribution hub at Patoka, Ill.

Since the damage occurred, VanRenterghem said Dakota Access has been providing security officers along the seven safety valve points in Mahaska County. He said the sheriff's department also has seven deputies increasing patrol in those areas.

He said the damage has not caused overtime for the deputies.

"We’re just getting by with what we’ve got at this time," VanRenterghem said.

Though he isn't sure of the cost estimate, VanRenterghem said a charge in the case would likely be first-degree criminal mischief, which occurs when someone causes more than $10,000 in damage.

The sheriff's office is conducting an investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are also assisting.