Archive | 2020

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline is No Mas

The natural gas project which would have crossed the Appalachian Trail has been canceled as delays and costs mount.  This blog has reported on the pipeline frequently.  See “The Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Bulldozers at Your Doorstep,” June 16, 2020.  At that time, it was noted that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline can traverse sixteen miles within the George Washington National Forest.  The case, U.S. Forest Service v Cowpasture River Prevention Assoc., 590 US ___ (2020) considered the grant of a special permit from the Forest… read more

Posted in Appalachian Trial, Pipelines, Sioux Nation, Uncategorized
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The Court of Appeals Upholds a Pipeline that May Never Be Built

The Court of Appeals handed down a 25-page decision on June 25, 2020 that approved the condemnation of private property for a pipeline that may never be built. In 2017, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to National Fuel Gas Supply for its proposed construction of a 99-mile natural gas pipeline spanning from Pennsylvania to Western New York. The issue before New York’s highest court was did the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity which did not condition Natural Fuel’s eminent domain power… read more

Posted in EDPL 204(B), FERC, Pipelines, Water Quality Certificate
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Pipelines Here, There and Everywhere

Sooner or later a pipeline case had to arrive at the Supreme Court.  Last week the Court rules on the first high profile case.  The court ruled in favor of a 600-mile natural gas pipeline proposed to go under the Appalachian Trail in rural Virginia.  We wrote on the case in our blog on June 16, 2020.  The decision also removed a hurdle for another 300-mile pipeline and could prompt development on other ecologically important lands. The Supreme Court will now consider whether it will grant or deny review, or… read more

Posted in Eleventh Amendment, Pipelines
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Border Wars Trump Style

The U.S. has actively been pursuing the wall between the United States and Mexico.  And, no, Mexico is not paying for it.  Since the month of March, the government has filed 24 new condemnation cases to acquire private property from South Texas landowners which is more than were filed in the preceding eight months.  All this despite the pandemic. There are currently 657 miles of primary barriers and 50 miles of secondary barriers along the 2000-mile border. Remember that the vast majority of the barriers were constructed prior to the… read more

Posted in Border Wall, Condemnation
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Notice of “Rails to Trails” Constitutes a Taking

On May 29, 2020, the Federal Circuit Court o Appeals issued a decision in Caquelin v U.S., No. 19-1385 (Fed. Cir. 2020), which held that a categorical taking analysis applies to the evaluation of whether a Notice of Intended Trail use constitutes a taking. In the early development of our County, railroads were critical to development.  Development of railroad networks was very important.  So important, that railroads were given the power of eminent domain.  The railroads used the power to negotiate or take easements over private property for the use… read more

Posted in Categorical Taking, Rails-to-Trails
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