Navigation

Archive | Pipeline Takings

June 5, 2019

THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE PROJECT

The Supreme Court of Iowa ruled on May 31, 2019 that the Dakota Access Pipeline is a valid use of eminent domain in the State of Iowa. The Dakota Access Pipeline is set to be one of the largest pipelines in North America, running from North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa to reach a refinery in Illinois.  The pipeline has been subject to a significant amount of controversy for its size and environmental impact as well as its location running through Indian Reservations. The current case was brought by… read more

By
Posted in Dakota Access Pipeline, Pipeline Takings, Takings Clause, Uncategorized
Read more > 0

May 30, 2019

PAYMENT OF AN ADVANCE PAYMENT: THE NEW YORK RULE

          On May 28, 2019, the United States Supreme Court declined to grant certiorari to review a case which arose out of southeast Pennsylvania.  The 72-acre parcel was owned by Gary and Michelle Erb who intended to build their residence and also have their sons build homes on the land as well.  But the Erbs’ dream was destroyed when the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company (Transco) applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for authorization to build its Atlantic Sunrise Project – a natural gas pipeline running through Pennsylvania,… read more

By
Posted in Advance Payments, Pipeline Takings, Uncategorized
Read more > 0

October 3, 2017

WIND-POWER LINE BLOWN AWAY BY ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT

The Illinois Supreme Court rendered a decision on September 21, 2017 which upheld a lower court decision that an application filed by Clean Line Energy, a Houston Company, may not use eminent domain to acquire land to develop a 500 mile transmission line designed to carry wind generated power through the State of Illinois.  Illinois Landowners Alliance NRF v Illinois Commerce Commission, 2017 IL 121302. The basis for the decision was that Clean Line Energy does not qualify as a “public utility.”  The $1.8 billion high voltage line has been… read more

By
Posted in Pipeline Takings, Public Purpose, Public Utility
Read more > 0

January 24, 2017

TRUMP REVIVES KEYSTONE AND DAKOTA PIPELINES

President Trump signed an Executive Order on January 24, 2017 reviving the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipeline projects.  Former President Barack Obama rejected the Keystone 1,179 mile pipeline in 2015. When he signed the Order, Mr. Trump recited that the pipeline would bring 28,000 construction jobs.  But according to the New York Times, “studies showed that the pipeline would not have a momentous impact on jobs.”  New York Times, January 24, 2017.  The President also indicated that he would renegotiate the terms with the pipelines. The President also seemed… read more

By
Posted in Pipeline Takings
Read more > 0

January 6, 2017

PIPELINE TAKINGS – TIME TO RECONSIDER THEIR POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN

If you monitor eminent domain issues on a national level, you must be aware that by far the greatest controversy has focused on pipeline takings. The United States has the largest network of energy pipelines in the world, generally accepted to be 2.5 million miles, more recently, because of fracking, massive new pipeline building has been taking place.  Most of those lines are for oil.  Some states make a distinction between oil and gas pipelines.  Gas pipelines would not have the federal statutory priority and would be subject to state… read more

By
Posted in Partial Takings, Pipeline Takings
Read more > 0