Oregon landowners seek pipeline protections
“A property rights group wants Oregon lawmakers to strengthen protections for farmers who face natural gas pipelines crossing their land.
Landowners currently are in a weak position during negotiations with pipeline developers who hold the power of eminent domain, said Dave Hunnicutt, president of the Oregonians In Action group.
“The property owner does not have the right to say, ‘No,’” Hunnicutt said during a recent legislative hearing.
The federal government grants the power of eminent domain to developers under certain conditions, which state legislators can’t change, he said.
However, lawmakers in Oregon may be able to provide farmers, ranchers and other landowners with more leverage in negotiations, Hunnicutt said.
“It’s really hard to enforce what you think your rights are,” said Verne Gingerich, a farmer near Canby, Ore.
Gingerich said his family signed an easement agreement with a pipeline company in 1959, but circumstances have changed a great deal since then.”
Perkowski, Mateusz. Capital Press 3 June 2014.