The Texas eminent domain attorneys at Dawson & Sodd have been closely following the Permian Highway Pipeline Project and the effects it will have on Texas property owners. Many have already received requests from Kinder Morgan, the company building the pipeline, to survey their land or even initial offers to purchase easement rights to cross their property.
What should these landowners do to protect their property rights?
What Is The Permian Highway Pipeline Project?
People who live in the central Texas counties of Hays, Gillespie, Blanco and Caldwell are very familiar with Kinder Morgan’s proposed Permian Highway Pipeline Project. The Houston-based energy infrastructure company wants to build a 460-mile-long pipeline to transport natural gas from the Permian oil fields in West Texas all the way across the state to facilities in and around the Houston area.
Construction for the pipeline project is set to begin in the fall of 2019. When completed, the 42-inch diameter pipeline will move 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. Kinder Morgan has almost completed the process of securing the necessary permits and regulatory requirements needed to begin the construction process.
The proposed pipeline route cuts a path straight across Texas’ scenic and environmentally sensitive Hill Country region. Many property owners and environmentalist fear the pipeline, which will require a 75-foot wide construction easement zone, will cause permanent damage to their land, affecting the area’s freshwater springs, underground aquifers, and the wildlife they support. The area is home to several rare and endangered species, including the golden-cheeked warbler.
Pipeline Easement Rights and Compensation
At this early stage, it is difficult to know for sure whether Kinder Morgan has the power of eminent domain for this project, but it appears unlikely that landowners can entirely stop the company from using their property.
However, there are two things property owners can still do:
- Negotiate the terms of the easement agreement; and
- Negotiate compensation for the loss of the land to the easement and any current and future damages the pipeline causes to the land.
The best way for these landowners to protect their rights is to enlist the services of an experienced Texas eminent domain attorney to assist them. There are many details to consider when negotiating an easement agreement, including:
- Fair compensation for the value of your land
- When, where and how the pipeline company can enter your property
- The duration of the easement agreement
- What structures can be placed on or near the easement
- Requirements to restore the property after use
- Reimbursement for any damage done to the property
Learn more about negotiating a pipeline easement agreement.
Dawson & Sodd Has Been Protecting the Property Rights of Texas Landowners for over 100 Years
If you own property in Hays, Gillespie, Blanco and Caldwell counties and you’ve been contacted by Kinder Morgan about using your land for their Permian pipeline project, it’s important to negotiate an agreement that spells out exactly what the company is and isn’t allowed to do. Failing to do so may result in a blanket easement, which could give the pipeline company rights to do things that could be unnecessarily detrimental to the value of your property.
The Texas eminent domain attorneys at Dawson & Sodd have been defending the rights of Texas property owners for over 100 years. We have a well-earned reputation for aggressively negotiating with government entities and energy infrastructure companies on behalf of our clients. Have you been contacted by a private or government entity about buying or using your land and are unsure on how to proceed? Contact Dawson & Sodd to learn how we can protect your rights as a Texas land owner.
