Shumlin: Hire appraiser in pipeline takings
“Gov. Peter Shumlin wants the Department of Public Service to hire an independent property appraiser to participate in eminent domain proceedings for the Addison-Rutland Natural Gas Project.
“I am concerned at the transparency and equity issues that have been raised by Vermont Gas’s negotiations with landowners,” Shumlin wrote in a letter Monday. “I want to ensure consistent third-party valuations for property subject to condemnation in the event eminent domain proceedings occur.”
Eminent domain is the power to take private property for public use, and Vermont Gas Systems Inc. expects that 10 percent of property disputes along the pipeline’s route will end up in court.
Currently, the company reports that 70 percent of landowners have reached agreements with it to avoid eminent domain proceedings and 20 percent are undergoing productive negotiations.”
The Barre Montpelier Times Argus 30 August 2014.