Colorado bill might reinstate eminent-domain power for oil and gas companies
“Oil and gas companies had eminent-domain power for the paths of their pipelines for 105 years until the Colorado Supreme Court reinterpreted a dusty, old state law in 2012 — right as the current industry boom was starting to heat up.
Industry leaders say the stripping of this power hasn’t hurt growth yet, but they are concerned it will become an obstacle shortly as more fuel suppliers become interested in the increasing amount of product coming out of the Niobrara and other Colorado basin areas.
And, as such, a bill is moving through the Legislature that would reinstate companies’ ability to push lines through public and private property when negotiations to buy or lease the land fail.
Senate Bill 93, sponsored by Sen. Cheri Jahn, D-Wheat Ridge, passed the Senate with an overwhelming and bipartisan 24-10 vote Thursday. It heads next to the state House.”
Sealover, Ed. Denver Business Journal. 27 February 2014.