The IUB set the conference as a result of new legislation that went into effect at the end of May that limits their time to act upon Clean Line's application to two years.
Clean Line agreed to complete its application and set a procedural schedule. Clean Line has yet to file what is known as "Exhibit E," a packet of materials particular to each property it expects to take by eminent domain, if its application is granted. Therefore, a procedural schedule relies on the filing of this material in time for review by IUB staff.
IUB Staff subsequently filed its proposed procedural schedule. The Staff's schedule requires Clean Line to begin filing Exhibit E materials for at least two of the 16 Iowa counties it proposes to cross by August 1, 2016. The remaining Exhibit E material must be filed in time for the Staff to complete its review by July 1, 2017.
However, Clean Line's proposed procedural schedule calls for Staff to hold off its review until November, 2016. Clean Line doesn't intend to begin filing any Exhibit E material until at least May 1, 2017, and expects Staff to complete its review no later than July, 2017. In fact, Clean Line expects Staff to complete its review before it even files all the Exhibit E material no later than August 1, 2017.
So, Clean Line doesn't really expect to file its Exhibit E material in a timely fashion in order to allow effective Staff review. Clean Line is still dragging its feet on filing a complete application.
Clean Line's schedule contemplates:
to hold off on petition review while Clean Line pursues easement negotiations
What have you been doing with yourself over the past three years, Clean Line? Trying to avoid Exhibit E altogether by bifurcating your application? Whining that obtaining easements before receiving approval from the IUB is a waste of your time and money?
Clean Line has had plenty of time already to get its act together... perhaps it just doesn't have the money?
Meanwhile, the IUB will consider these two vastly different proposed procedural schedules to set a realistic schedule that gets to a decision no later than May 28, 2018.