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Permalink Reply by craig on September 14, 2012 at 5:29am

Eminent domain can and should be a sore subject, but one must know the real facts before condemning the use of eminent domain. There are times is needs to be used.

Some things to remember:

This is an existing pipeline being repaired/replaced. 

It seems the folks most upset are those that didn't do their own due diligence about the pipeline before buying their property. 

Things like they are cutting down 100 trees so they can park their 'dozers won't be accurate. You will probably find that they need the room to manipulate the lengths of pipe as well as the machinery. I've seen this before where they ask for 100' ROW, but then agree to 75' or whatever which might be  the minimum they can use to meet DEP and OSHA regulations. 

I am not a fan of eminent domain whatsoever, but when replacing/repairing a line I'm sure it can and will be used if the need presents itself. And of course you do have the few unscrupulous pipeline operators as well.

Now new pipelines are a different story.

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