Kentucky legislators seeking eminent domain protections for landowners in pipeline path
“Two Kentucky lawmakers have pre-filed bills for next year’s General Assembly that they say would help protect property owners from having their land seized for the proposed Bluegrass Pipeline.
Republican State Sen. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon and Rep. David Floyd of Bardstown pre-filed measures Thursday specifying that developers of oil and gas pipeline projects would be eligible to condemn land only if they are regulated by the Public Service Commission.
Floyd said in a prepared statement that while he supports business and industry, the rights of landowners must be preserved.
“I might understand why some want to grant easement for the Bluegrass Pipeline Project through their land, but I cannot fathom the argument that those who want to protect their property must yield to government force for the benefit of a private company,” Floyd said. “The taking of private property in Kentucky must be rare, and then only for public use.”
In an interview, Floyd said their measures would strengthen state law.
“Bluegrass is unregulated,” he said. “There’s nothing in our state statute that covers a non (regulated) utility pipeline.””
Green, Marcus. WDRB.com 4 October 2013.