Pipeline Takings
When a gas drilling company wants a piece of land for a pipeline, its representative usually shows up at the owner’s door with a letter from the Texas Railroad Commission, stating that the company has a right to take the land.
Pipeline companies can condemn land because they’re considered either utility companies, which serve the public the same as Atmos or TXU, or "common carriers," a legal term that means they carry oil or gas for anyone.
Major gas companies have formed their own pipeline divisions as they seek routes for gathering pipelines to serve the Barnett Shale. These divisions have the power to condemn land. ...
This is an article worth reading. Consider the following questions when reading this article. When is a take effectively a private take? Is there statutory relief needed? What is the constitutional and statutory authority designed to limit “public use” \ pipeline takings?
