Real Estate & Property Law

PA Legislature Proposes a Pipeline Regulation Bill

By Alan Ackerman

Representative Matt Baker, a Republican out of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, brightly understood that there are multiple problems with pipeline regulation.  One of the most substantial problems may be that some pipelines are not regulated.   

Mr. Baker chose not to include an eminent domain power in order to properly assure property owners that passage of a safety bill would not inure  their detriment by somehow granting eminent domain power which does not otherwise exist.  

thetimes-tribune.com
    
    The bill wouldn't apply to interstate pipelines which are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Mr. Baker's legislation steers away from the controversial issue of pipeline companies exercising eminent domain as a public utility to acquire private property for a pipeline.

"The legislation includes language which permits the PUC to regulate natural gas pipelines without having to deem them a public utility line," Mr. Baker said. "Therefore, the power of eminent domain is not extended."

The PUC would have power to assess pipeline owners fees based on pipeline miles to help pay for its safety program. Mr. Baker hopes to steer passage of the bill, which has drawn strong bipartisan support, before the session ends in November. Passage of the bill is one of the PUC's top priorities, said agency spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher.
 

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on September 23, 2010 (boomark / email).