Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Kansas said today (Tuesday) Mid-America Pipeline Company, LLC and Enterprise Products Operating LLC (Enterprise), of Houston, Texas, have agreed to pay a civil penalty of more than $1 million to the United States to settle violations of the federal Clean Water Act related to three natural gasoline pipeline spills near Onawa, Iowa, as well as in Kansas and Nebraska. 

As part of a consent decree lodged today in U.S. District Court in Omaha, Neb., and in addition to paying the $1,042,000 civil penalty, the companies have agreed to undertake various measures aimed at reducing external threats to their pipeline, enhance their reporting of spills, and spend at least $200,000 to identify and prevent external threats to the pipeline involved in the spills. 

MAPCO owns and Enterprise operates the 2,769-mile West Red Pipeline, which transports mixed natural gasoline products between Conway, Kan., and Pine Bend, Minn. The settlement resolves Clean Water Act violations related to three spills, including one which occurred along the pipeline on August 13th, 2011. During the incident, a rupture happened near Onawa, which caused the discharge of approximately 818 barrels of natural gasoline directly into the Missouri River.  

In addition to the proactive inspections and outreach efforts, the settlement also requires MAPCO and Enterprise to spend $200,000 to relocate, cover, lower or replace pipeline segments; install new remote shutoff valves; install new physical protections such as fences or concrete barriers; and install other new equipment, structures or systems to prevent spills from reaching navigable waters. 

The consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic man was arrested Sunday, on a district court warrant for Failure to Appear. 20-year old Michael Andrew McConnell, was brought to the Cass County Jail, and later released on $2000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident Monday afternoon, in Anita. Officials say the accident happened at Linn Street and Highway 83, at around 3:35 p.m., when a  2012 Buick Enclave driven by 25-year old Matthew Quinn Bonnesen, of Anita, was struck from behind. The incident happened as Bonnesen was westbound on Main Street in Anita, and waiting to turn into the Casey’s General Store parking lot. His car was hit by a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by 16-year-old Kolby Dean Hansen, of Anita.  Hansen was ticketed for Failure to Stop within Assured Clear Distance. Damage to Bonnesen’s vehicle is estimated at $2000; damage to Hansen’s vehicle is estimated at $3000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) released additional details on a rollover accident which occurred Saturday evening near the Cass-Adams County line. Officials say they were notified about the crash on Yankton Road, just east of 630th Street, at around 6:20-p.m. Their report said a 1996 Chevy Corsica driven by 16-year-old Hunter Daine Bechtol was traveling eastbound on Yankton Road when Bechtol lost control of the car, which rolled into the north ditch. Bechtol and three male passengers in the car, ages 13-, 14-, and 15, suffered minor injuries and were transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital for evaluation by Medivac, Griswold Rescue, and Villisca Rescue. All occupants were wearing seatbelts. Bechtol was ticketed for Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $2,500.

The driver of a semi tractor-trailer suffered what were described as minor injuries to his shoulder following an accident north of Atlantic late this (Tuesday) morning.

Semi in south ditch off I-80 Eastbound Tuesday morning (Ric Hanson photo)

According to the Iowa State Patrol, 60-year old Russell W. Hays, of Rock Island, IL., was traveling east on Interstate 80 at around 10:50-a.m., about one-quarter of a mile west of the Olive Street, or Exit 57 interchange, when the 2003 Freightliner semi he was driving went out of control, and entered the south ditch. The rig came to rest upright against a drainage ditch.

Hays was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic by Medivac Ambulance, for treatment of his injuries. Officials say he was wearing a seat belt.

(Ric Hanson photo)

The operator of an all-terrain vehicle was arrested Sunday in Audubon County, following an investigation into a crash that sent three people to the hospital. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department says 25-year old Cale James Bolick, of Gray, was arrested at around 4-a.m. Sunday on OWI/1st Offense, Reckless Driving and Interference with Official Acts charges, following the crash, which occurred earlier that same morning, northeast of Gray.

Officials say three passengers on the 2006 Artic Cat ATV were injured. 39-year old Brandi Kay Vansickel and 17-year old Megan Boehm, both of Gray, and 18-year old Helena Trusty, of Denison, were transported to the Audubon County Hospital by Audubon Fire and Rescue. Bolick, and another passenger on the ATV, Casey Steven Bolick, of Gray, were not hurt during the crash.

Authorities say the vehicle was traveling north on Goldfinch, when it collided with a bridge railing and went into the east ditch before rolling over. The incident remains under investigation, and additional charges are pending. Damage to the ATV was estimated at $1,500.

Officials with the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations have selected recipients of their respective scholarship awards. In Cass County,  the 2012 McCurdy scholarsship awards went to Michaela Schwenke and Tanner Brown, both of whom are seniors at the CAM High School. The teens have won $500 scholarships from the Dustin McCurdy Endowed Scholarship Fund.

In Audubon County, the 2012 Exira Lions Club/Harold & Beverly Ann Godwin scholarship award of $1,000 went to Daniel Petty, a senior at the Exira High School. The award marked the second year for scholarship, which is available to any graduating Exira High School senior pursuing a two or four year degree, full-time, at any accredited vocational/technical or educational institution or a college or university who can demonstrate a successful high school academic career along with demonstrated community service spirit of volunteerism.