The Iowa Utilities Board issued an order today in Docket No. HLP-2014-0001 granting an amendment to Dakota Access LLC for its hazardous liquid pipeline permit. The order allows the pipeline company to proceed with improvements to its pump station in Cambridge and a related plan to increase the flow of oil from the current limit of 550,000 barrels per day to up to 1.1 million bpd. Dakota Access filed its request for a permit amendment with the IUB on Nov. 27. In January, the IUB required Dakota Access to provide additional information explaining the effect of the increased flow of oil on the pipeline; explaining safety measures, inspections and patrols to be performed after an increase in oil flow; and explaining whether the flow increase would lead to an increase in the amount of oil released if a spill occurred. Based upon the information filed in the record by Dakota Access and others, the IUB granted the amendment to the pipeline permit. The IUB found that the increase in oil will not significantly increase the risk of a spill, or the amount of oil that would be spilled if an incident occurred. Among other provisions, the order also requires Dakota Access to inform local, county and state agencies that might have to respond to an incident to the increase in oil flow.