McLean, Livingston, DeWitt County Pipeline

Pantagraph, August 20, 2007

A Canadian crude oil transporter requested eminent domain to construct a pipeline through McLean, Livingston and DeWitt counties.

The eminent domain power is sought only in the interest of efficiency and to meet public need for crude petroleum.

Enbridge wants to construct a 170 mile pipeline east of Bloomington from Pontiac to Patoka. Construction is slated to start in 2008.

-The pipeline going through Indiana is also going through Illinois. Property owners are challenging the taking at the Illinois Commerce Commission. It is unlikely that the local Commerce Commission would rule against a pipeline, especially in the present day context that the pipelines are federal activities and the challenge would therefore be made at the federal level. The pipeline company will aggressively take on the farmers, so the farmers and other owners challenging the estimate of just compensation is incorrect at a future date.

Bloomington Pipeline

Pantagraph, July 10, 2007

A Canadian company that wants to contruct a crude-oil pipeline through Central Illinois plans to file for eminet domain power near the end of the month.

Eminent domain remains a last option, however, Endbridge Inc. might begin negotiating with landowners around the same time it files for certificate of good standing...

The 170-mile pipeline would run east of Bloomington Normal from Pontiac to Patoka, affects about 95 landowners in Mclean county, 68 in Livingston County and 65 in DeWitt Count.

-A Canadian pipeline will work its way through Illinois despite the opposition of the local farmers. The issue then becomes one of how owners can be treated fairly. To simply “start negotiations” does not deal with the compensation or the valuation of pipeline takes.

At least there seems to be recognition that the tile fields will require repair.