Fight over Keystone XL continues, landowners vow to fight until very end

For Nebraska farmers and ranchers, their land means more than just green grass and space. They say, they will not go down without a fight.

“Overall, this is my fourth offer” said Jim Tarnick about receiving another letter from TransCanada.

Tarnick’s land has been in his family for the last 125 years. Farming and ranching land in Nance County near Fullerton.

“Two things that keep this farm and ranch going and that’s the land and the water” said Tarnick.

Tarnick says the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline threatens both the land and water.

“I guess you could call it a bullying tactic but it’s very frustrating to receive a letter like that.”

He and dozens of other landowners recently received a letter from TransCanada with new offers of right of-way payments.

“This Monday, we did send out a letter to the roughly 100 people here in Nebraska that we have not been able to reach an agreement with to date that further outlines the process moving forward” said Andrew Craig, Keystone’s land manager.

Under Nebraska law, TransCanada, the company who wants to build the Keystone XL, has until January 22nd to acquire the land needed for it.