Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 12, 2021 07:53 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Nancy Guenst |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Eminent Domain for Public Utility Pipelines |
| For many Pennsylvania residents whose homes fall in the path of a potential public utility pipeline, the process is unfortunately stacked in favor of the public utility corporation. Pennsylvania homeowners have little recourse but to allow a pipeline’s siting and subsequent construction to proceed due to the public utility corporation’s eminent domain powers. My proposed legislation puts a safeguard in place for these residents by requiring a public utility corporation to gain approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission before using eminent domain to obtain their property for the purpose of pipeline construction. Additionally, this legislation would prohibit petroleum or petroleum product transportation lines from being located within 100 meters of a “dwelling house” that is not located within the limits of any street, highway, water, or other public way or place. Residents should not have to fear that their land could be taken from them at any time for a highly intrusive and complex job like the installation of a public utility pipeline. We need to ensure that the process is fair towards homeowners. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to provide much needed oversight on the eminent domain process for public utility pipeline construction. |
Introduced as HB1208