Real Estate & Property Law

Wikipedia Gets It Wrong

By Alan Ackerman

In their objections to the Steckman Ridge gas storage project, at least a part of the community has been vociferous in opposition.  Not to say that the community is wrong in its opposition, one can recognize that it may very well be inaccurate.

This blogger was shocked that FERC would take away the storage rights already maintained by owners.  If owners retained their storage rights when gas is removed, the owners retain their storage rights.  The implication of the most recent Wikipedia article on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Steckman Ridge Option Group blog, is that storage rights are taken away.

Maybe the storage company could be wrong in its actions, but the opposition should be based upon facts and facts alone.

Clearville's Blog

Clearville landowners had gas leases which stated ''No gas storage'' when gas production is over, that was the end of the lease deal so thought the landowners. Gas leases with no gas storage clauses were thrown out and over ruled as needed for a public utility by FERC. No other government agency can touch FERC; they are ''Untouchable'' and not supported by government FUNDS but was created by the government to rule without any goverment oversight and regulation. FERC regulates FERC. The Steckman Ridge storage field was approved by untouchable FERC; it allowed the gas company to take land as they please and handed it to the gas company on a silver platter. Wth a certificate in the gas company''s hand, they walked onto private property and boasted of their ownership then threatened ''Eminent Domain''. One person from the gas company said: ''You either cooperate or our Houston attorneys and FERC will turn this deal around in days. Landowners thought ''FERC'' was a dirty word or something, we never heard FERC before but it sounded ''scary'' and ''powerful'' and ''it was and is powerful.''
FERC, '' The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.'' is a newly created independent agency, self funded and self regulated even the President and Congress have no power over this agency beast except the department of defense is noted with power to intervene. Sounds like FERC is setup for war chest or money ventures for stockholders? Is the department of defense going to be ready for the water wars when all of our water has been destroyed by these ruthless fossil fuel ventures? The Big Bang Award in 2005 goes to the Bush administration for creating the independent agency with no government oversight or regulations, top secret?

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on July 19, 2010 (boomark / email).