Source: http://www.rightofwaymagazine-digital.org/rightofway/march_april_2017?pg=21
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 10:35:55+00:00

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Taylor Doyle, Esq., is the Associate General Counsel of Doyle Land Services, Inc., as well as a Project Manager of Right of Way Acquisitions. He is a graduate of Tulane University Law School and actively served on the Environmental Law Clinic.
Pennsylvania does not allow right of entry for interstate projects that do not meet state requirements because similar to the McCurdy decision, the Pennsylvania court was not willing to read federal right of entry authority into an ambiguous state law. The state’s Constitutional Statute defines a “public utility” to include “…any person or corporations…operating in [Pennsylvania] equipment or facilities” for transmitting natural gas to the public.
Such an entity is a condemnor, and a condemnor, with notice, has “the right to enter upon any land or improvement in order to make studies, surveys, tests, soundings and appraisals.” In Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. v. Garrison, the Federal Middle District Court of Pennsylvania refused to allow the Tennessee Gas Pipeline company to use this state right of entry statute for their interstate project: “In claiming a right to enter Defendants’ property to carry out the surveys, Plaintiff fuses state and federal law in a way that does not stand up to close scrutiny…[T]he Natural Gas Act does not provide for pre-condemnation entry onto Plaintiff’s property, nor does it point to state law for such authorization.” Historically, Virginia law has allowed right of entry without the landowner’s permission, and a Virginian federal district court recently affirmed a reading of the state’s condemnation law in broad favor of right of entry for interstate purposes. Under Virginia code, any natural gas company engaged in the transportation of interstate gas may “make such examinations, tests, hand auger borings, appraisals, and surveys for its proposed line…as are necessary… to satisfy any regulatory requirements” without the landowner’s permission if the company previously requested permission and did not receive it.
In Klemic v. Dominion Transmission, Inc., the Western District Court of Virginia found that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, in its interstate transportation and sale of natural gas, served a public purpose.
Similar to Virginia, Ohio has a broad interpretation of its state law in favor of interstate natural gas company’s right of entry. Ohio code states that "…any agency may, upon the notice prescribed in this section, prior to or subsequent to the filing of a petition [to appropriate land], enter upon any lands . . . and premises for the purpose of making such surveys, soundings, drillings, appraisals, and examinations as are necessary or proper for the purpose of the agency.” Agencies that have the right to appropriate property in Ohio include companies that are organized for the purpose of transporting natural or artificial gas through tubing, pipes, or conduits.
In Texas Eastern Transmission, LP v. Barack, the federal district court found that Texas Eastern Transmission, a subsidiary of Spectra Energy, was an “agency” because it was organized to transport natural gas. Further, the court held that the public interest will be served because the project will help supply energy to consumers in the eastern United States. Like Virginia’s Klemic decision, Ohio’s Texas Eastern fuses state law with federal/interstate public interest.
statutes while seeking federal approval.
Klemic v. Dominion Transmission, Inc., (W.D. Va. Sept. 30, 2015).
McCurdy v. Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, (W. Va. Nov. 15, 2016).
McCurdy v. Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, (S.D. W. Va. Aug. 16, 2015).
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. v. Garrison, (M.D. Pa. Sept. 10, 2010).
Texas Eastern Transmission, LP v. Barack, (S.D. Ohio Apr. 11, 2014).
When the West Virginia Supreme Court concurred with the lower court, MVP was required to wait for their FERC certificate before gaining right of entry.
This article is for informational purposes and not intended to serve as legal advice.

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