Court restores local zoning rules for shale gas drillers in Pennsylvania
“An appeals court on Thursday curbed the state’s power over local zoning rules that target the growing gas-drilling industry but upheld parts of Pennsylvania’s revamped oil and gas laws involving notification of spills, eminent domain…
Court Dismisses Challenges To Act 13, Enjoins PUC Review Of Local Ordinances
“Commonwealth Court Thursday dismissed the remaining challenges to the Act 13 drilling law remanded for reconsideration by the PA Supreme Court, but did enjoin the Public Utility Commission from reviewing local ordinances regulating drilling consistent…
What is eminent domain?
“Eminent domain, the government’s power to take private property for public use, is rooted in the Fifth Amendment. Typically, the government has invoked that power for public projects like schools and roads. In 2005, the…
The gas company that says it can take your backyard
“For more than a decade, the country around Ronald and Sallie Cox’s home, 25 miles south of Pittsburgh, has been an unchanging landscape of rolling green foothills. Sitting atop a modest promontory, their property is…
A Pipeline Threatens Our Family Land
“This spring a man with a clipboard knocked on Malinda’s door. He wanted permission to survey her property for a natural gas pipeline. My sister asked what would happen if she didn’t sign. Williams Partners,…
West Pikeland opposes Sunoco’s try for public utility status
“Township supervisors said they will support other public entities in Chester County by writing to the state Public Utility Commission asking it not to grant public utility status to Sunoco Logistics for its Mariner East…
Pipeline Companies Paying More to Cross Private Land
“A natural gas pipeline company argued earlier this year that it should pay about $80,000 for the right to lay pipe across a mile of vacant land south of Fort Worth. The landowner countered, and…
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…
Enbridge plans open house on controversial pipeline project
“Enbridge, the company that plans to build a 167-mile pipeline from Flanagan to Patoka, will have team members at an open house Thursday to answer questions about the project. It’s the last of four open…
Tentative settlement reached in Sunoco Pipeline eminent domain case
“A tentative out-of-court settlement was reached between Sunoco Pipeline and a Chartiers Township couple who were attempting to prevent the company from imposing eminent domain to secure an easement to cross their property for a…