Landowners seek legal rights in pipeline dispute
Posted: Oct 28, 2014 11:13 PM EDT Updated: Oct 28, 2014 11:16 PM EDT
By Rachel Lucas, Digital Journalist
Blacksburg (WSLS)- As concerns grow among people here in our region about proposed pipelines, hundreds attended a meeting Tuesday night in Blacksburg to learn what their legal rights are as landowners and as a community.
EQT and NEXTERA have formally filed the pipeline proposal to FERC, the federal agency that will have the ultimate say on whether this pipeline will get the greenlight.
Hundreds of landowners throughout our area have been contacted by surveyors with the pipeline who are asking permission to survey their land.
Landowners who say they feel helpless in the matter are learning their options.
While facing a major corporation may be overwhelming to individual landowners --the message tonight was clear, that the issue should be addressed as a community, and they aren't giving in easily.
Carolyn Deck passionately spoke out against the pipeline.
"We will fight to our last breath. This pipeline will be stopped. There are too many people opposed to it," Deck said.
Deck has lived in the New River Valley her entire life. She is among the hundreds who are pushing back, saying no to the pipeline.
"The pipeline is going to stop because the citizens are going to stop it," Deck said.
Many of those who spoke have already been approached by surveyors who they say have come on to their property without permission.
While local governments and landowners ultimately have no say in whether the pipeline goes through, many are signing petitions, and planning protests in Richmond against a large corporation they say doesn't have the region's best interest in mind.
David Seriff is with an organization against the pipeline, Preserve the NRV.
"We believe this is going to benefit wealthy energy companies,” Seriff said. “We believe most of the gas is going to be sold overseas, so for it to come through our area and cause lots of negative consequences both economically and health wise. It just doesn't make sense."
Legal experts at the meeting are urging landowners to protect themselves whether they are opposed to the pipeline or not. They say not to sign any documents before contacting a lawyer to ensure that even if they are willing to sell, that they receive a fair price.
"People get discouraged and confused because one person alone cannot make a difference,” Deck said. “The power here is in the number of people who inform themselves. If you love your children and your grandchildren, you will do that.
And with signs in hand, many are speaking out together, as the numbers of those who oppose the pipeline continue to grow.
Now that EQT and NEXTERA have formally submitted the proposal to FERC, the process now shifts to what is called an “intervention period”, where landowners and all parties involved can comment online and state their opinion about the mountain valley pipeline for final consideration.
http://www.wsls.com/story/27148598/landowners-seek-legal-rights-in-pipeline-dispute
EQT and NEXTERA have formally filed the pipeline proposal to FERC, the federal agency that will have the ultimate say on whether this pipeline will get the greenlight.
Hundreds of landowners throughout our area have been contacted by surveyors with the pipeline who are asking permission to survey their land.
Landowners who say they feel helpless in the matter are learning their options.
While facing a major corporation may be overwhelming to individual landowners --the message tonight was clear, that the issue should be addressed as a community, and they aren't giving in easily.
Carolyn Deck passionately spoke out against the pipeline.
"We will fight to our last breath. This pipeline will be stopped. There are too many people opposed to it," Deck said.
Deck has lived in the New River Valley her entire life. She is among the hundreds who are pushing back, saying no to the pipeline.
"The pipeline is going to stop because the citizens are going to stop it," Deck said.
Many of those who spoke have already been approached by surveyors who they say have come on to their property without permission.
While local governments and landowners ultimately have no say in whether the pipeline goes through, many are signing petitions, and planning protests in Richmond against a large corporation they say doesn't have the region's best interest in mind.
David Seriff is with an organization against the pipeline, Preserve the NRV.
"We believe this is going to benefit wealthy energy companies,” Seriff said. “We believe most of the gas is going to be sold overseas, so for it to come through our area and cause lots of negative consequences both economically and health wise. It just doesn't make sense."
Legal experts at the meeting are urging landowners to protect themselves whether they are opposed to the pipeline or not. They say not to sign any documents before contacting a lawyer to ensure that even if they are willing to sell, that they receive a fair price.
"People get discouraged and confused because one person alone cannot make a difference,” Deck said. “The power here is in the number of people who inform themselves. If you love your children and your grandchildren, you will do that.
And with signs in hand, many are speaking out together, as the numbers of those who oppose the pipeline continue to grow.
Now that EQT and NEXTERA have formally submitted the proposal to FERC, the process now shifts to what is called an “intervention period”, where landowners and all parties involved can comment online and state their opinion about the mountain valley pipeline for final consideration.
http://www.wsls.com/story/27148598/landowners-seek-legal-rights-in-pipeline-dispute
