Farm family: Keep pipeline off our land

[hrmjustin]

By Joe Mahoney Staff Writer The Daily Star

The operators of one of the largest family-run dairy farms in upstate New York are pleading with federal regulators to alter the pathway of the proposed Constitution Pipeline so that it does not cross their property.

The current route of the natural gas transmission system “will cause an unlimited amount of damages” to the Stanton Family Farm in the town of Schoharie, Peter Mauhs, a Cobleskill attorney representing farm owners Kenneth and Juanita Stanton said in a letter released this week by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The pipeline company, a partnership of several significant players in the energy industry, is expected to file its formal application for a FERC license to construct the 120-mile transmission system next week.

While a majority of property owners along the route have allowed the pipeline company to conduct surveys of their parcels, scores have refused. And many of the landowners have urged the federal agency to reject the request for a license or order the pipeline company to co-locate the project along existing transmission line rights of way.

Read more at http://thedailystar.com/localnews/x746467705/Farm-family-Keep-pipeline-off-our-land

[rhett o rick]

1. So does the stand your ground laws apply here? Can they defend their land with violence if needed?

[hrmjustin]

2. I don't think we have stand your ground in NY but I could be wrong.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Natural gas?

What the hell? I am lost on this one.

[hrmjustin]

4. The stuff that they use fracking for. They want to make a pipeline upstate NY so that they can get

the gases to market. There is major opposition to it.

[Buzz Clik]

5. Yeah. Thanks for that.

[hrmjustin]

6. Your welcome!

[femmocrat]

7. I know very little about it... but wouldn't the state have to declare eminent domain?

We have refused twice to sign permission for geological (vibrations or echo?) testing under our land. I don't know if they can do it without our permission, but so far they haven't bothered us. We are also the only ones in our section who refused to sign a lease. I told them to quit asking and they did.... so far.

[hrmjustin]

8. I would assume that they are getting ready to use eminent domain.

If not then I don't know how else they could get the land.

[femmocrat]

9. I hope not. I hope the farmers win this one.

And much credit to them for standing up to the frackers.

[hrmjustin]

10. Well the Frackers are getting a lot of opposition in this state and from local towns and cities.

Towns and cities have the right to say no to them here and the frackers are taking them to court. So far the courts have sided with the towns and cities right to say no.

[femmocrat]

11. Good for NY. You are learning from other states' mistakes.

I am in PA and the landowners pretty much rolled over for them. Everyone thought they were going to get a windfall from the oil companies. HA. Not necessarily so.

I've seen way too many articles about ruined land, streams, and poisoned livestock. One farmer found a strange lock on his OWN gate to his own land. He couldn't even get access to his pasture. The frackers have all the rights and once the landowner signs, his rights end. And the payouts have been mere pittances considering all the damage and inconvenience. We are still holding out..... and holding our breath.

[hrmjustin]

12. We have some areas in the state that has problems from Fracking.

It appears that many local leaders are seeing the light on this. They are trying to pass a 2 year ban on fracking. The governor has been quiet and says he is studying it. The problem is the shall in Western NY and PA and eastern OH could be seriously damaged by this. I hope they do the right thing.