Crony Capitalism Meets Eminent Domain: When government allows private companies to trump constitution rights to life,liberty and property leadership changes are needed

December 5, 2013

Proposed gas pipeline could force landowners to give up rights

Company proposing project says it would affect 80 properties

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LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. —Lancaster County residents met Wednesday night to learn about a gas pipeline project that could force them to give up some land rights. 

The Oklahoma company hoping to build the gas line says it will affect 80 properties in Drumore and Fulton Township.

If need be, the Williams Company can use the federal government’s eminent domain powers to make it work.

The company hopes it will never get to that point. That’s why it hosted an informational meet-and-greet at Solanco High School.

Landowners and members of the community asked questions and looked through a giant map to see just how close the pipeline comes to their land.

Williams Company said if anyone has a problem with the placement of the pipe, they are willing to talk about moving it.

“Landowners are going to point things out to us that we don’t know about. They know their land a whole lot better than we do. And then we can make adjustments and mistakes to minimize any potential issues,” said Christ Stockton, spokesman with Williams Companies.

One farmer said the pipe would go through a water line he uses for his cattle. Others had big concerns like potential damage to the environment and land values.

The pipe would be about 10 miles long and hook a proposed natural gas power plant in Maryland to the Transco Pipeline, which stretches thousands of miles from the northeast down to the Gulf of Mexico.

If approved by the federal government, construction on the pipe could begin in August 2015.

Until then, the company will be working with landowners on coming to a fair payment price for their land rights. 

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