Landowners in Monkton rebuff Vt. Gas offers for easements

“Vermont Gas Systems on Tuesday announced that it had secured 75 percent of the easements it needs to build Phase I of the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project, a pipeline that will run 41 miles from Colchester to Middlebury and Vergennes.

The South Burlington company said it had made “significant progress” by securing easements for 166 of 221 parcels needed for the route.

“It’s been a good year,” company spokesman Steve Wark said. “We’ve made some pretty good progress.”

But in Monkton, the pace of that progress has been glacial. Since June, Vermont Gas has secured just one easement, from the Latreille family for $15,000, according to town land records.

To date, Vermont Gas has secured easements for 17 of 36 parcels needed in Monkton, or slightly less than half. The company has spent $289,000 on 16 easements and one 53-acre land purchase in the town.”

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Despart, Zach. Addison Independent 13 November 2014.