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As Texas farm owners square off with TransCanada, pipeline opponents see an opening

EnergyWire -- A ruling from Judge Tom Rugg isn't expected until at least Sept. 24. But comments the judge made during yesterday's hearing suggest that a recent ruling by the state Supreme Court against Denbury Resources over a different pipeline will weigh heavily on his decision.

Holland estimates that there are more than 50 pipelines crossing his property. He's challenged only two companies requesting access - Denbury and now TransCanada - because those companies' pipelines heavily restricted access to his own property once they are in place.

"All the other companies that we dealt with bore their pipelines under our canals," Holland said. "It's relatively easy to do today, it's not terribly expensive, and you bring it below the surface; therefore, you don't have the situation where if a pipeline


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Submitted Sep 15, 2012 By: Martinman
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: As Texas farm owners square off with TransCanada, pipeline opponents see an opening Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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Martinman
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 5:20:47 AM

LetemEatCake from Oklahoma City posted...

"Nicely said Martin, "...And that's exactly all the Texas Railroad Commission has ever done - is act as the industry's 'rubber-stamp' to meet the requirements of Texas Law - regardless of its impact on Texas landowners, or even the ethnics and morality of doing as it has done."

-----

Oh, I am fully aware.

I use to live there, and was later twice stationed in Texas.

[Edited by: Martinman at 9/17/2012 11:21:25 AM EST]
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TustinDad
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Sep 16, 2012 4:40:47 AM

TXryder wrote: "TransCanada is a load of liars! The Kochstone XL needs to take a hike, seriously. If they will not comply to land owner satisfaction, then don't mess with Texas.
Koch Brothers Positioned To Be Big Winners If Keystone XL Pipeline Is Approved"

Don't you realize that as long as it isn't Soros, it is perfectly fine to have private parties benefit from Government decisions?
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LetemEatCake
Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 6:17:11 PM


Nicely said Martin, "...And that's exactly all the Texas Railroad Commission has ever done - is act as the industry's 'rubber-stamp' to meet the requirements of Texas Law - regardless of its impact on Texas landowners, or even the ethnics and morality of doing as it has done.

TransCanada knows this. And that is why it has been low-balling Texas landowners. It is why TransCanada refuses to do what seems to be the morally and ethically responsible thing to do.

Because 'by law', TransCanada can."
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PDQBlues
Champion Author San Diego

Posts:7,069
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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 3:19:14 PM

I will continue to cheer for the rights and liberties for the US citizen over the corporate fascism and greed every time.
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ExplorerWA
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 12:01:57 PM

Lawsuits and appeals are going to last for years.
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boldrph
Champion Author Topeka

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 7:56:32 AM

omg! i thought everyone LOVED the transcanada pipeline!
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YaBassa
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 5:00:25 AM

Good luck Texas farm owners!
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leraar2
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 4:18:34 AM

seems a change in the texas constitution is called for.
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md11capt
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 4:06:11 AM

Major pushback to The Pipeline to the Fareast.
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merlinCO
Champion Author Colorado

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 3:55:14 AM

Build the refineries in Canada and keep the oil here.
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Martinman
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 3:13:59 AM

TIGERPAW46 from Florida posted...

"He may have a valid argument. Why can't They put the pipes deeper if the other oil pipes were buried deeper. If placing the pipes deeper would allow him to move equipment across them to access the rest of his property & lessen the risk of a leak running into the waterways across his land the court should concur."

-----

Because that's not how the Texas Code is written. The condemnation process under Texas Code only provides for basically rubber-stamping the Writ of Prossession filing - is the pipeline defined as a 'common courier' by the Texas Railroad Commission T-4 filing? The judge essentially only has legal authority to follow Texas law, since the Texas Railroad Commission has 'determined' that TransCanada is a 'common courier' under the process as set forth in the Texas State Code.

That is the loophole Denbury Green Pipeline attempted to abuse under the Texas Code. And it was a contributing factor in why the Texas Supreme Court overturned and remanded the ruling to the lower Texas court.

This is one of several loopholes in the Texas Code, expressedly setup to simplify the condemnation process against the landowner. The company applying as a 'common courier' has no verification process, no determination hearing, no means of validating whether the concern qualifies under Texas Code.

Given the Texas Railroad Commission's well established history of pandering to industry concerns, they have no requirement to validate the company filing as a 'commmon courier' is valid. All the Texas Railroad Commission is required to do by law, is to provide the T-4 form, and then process that form. It is not required to check what the concern files on the Form, let alone verify its validity.

And that's exactly all the Texas Railroad Commission has ever done - is act as the industry's 'rubber-stamp' to meet the requirements of Texas Law - regardless of its impact on Texas landowners, or even the ethnics and morality of doing as it has done.

TransCanada knows this. And that is why it has been low-balling Texas landowners. It is why TransCanada refuses to do what seems to be the morally and ethically responsible thing to do.

Because 'by law', TransCanada can.

.

[Edited by: Martinman at 9/15/2012 9:18:06 AM EST]
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jcotaxi
Champion Author South Bend

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 3:04:20 AM

Some companies use good judjment, while a few just want to screw the public for whatever they can, as quickly as they can. Almost sounds like rape.
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Wizrd03
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 2:55:26 AM

TransCanada is not a good neighbor. They are screwing property owners and need to be stopped with their practices in Texas using 100 year old land condemnation rules and placing undue restrictions on landowners and their property use
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Norm10
Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Sep 15, 2012 2:09:10 AM

Texans love Iranian crude!
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greywolves
Champion Author Las Vegas

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 11:31:48 PM

it is tougher to be just, than it is to be expedient
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repseng
Sophomore Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 10:52:22 PM

Ok
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TXryder
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:53:33 PM

Koch is a top speculator and price manipulator of crude prices
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TXryder
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:46:08 PM

TransCanada is a load of liars! The Kochstone XL needs to take a hike, seriously. If they will not comply to land owner satisfaction, then don't mess with Texas.

. Koch Brothers Positioned To Be Big Winners If Keystone XL Pipeline Is Approved

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/206467-house-democrats-spell-keystone-k-o-c-h



[Edited by: TXryder at 9/15/2012 2:52:11 AM EST]
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teafortwo
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:45:11 PM


Private property rights are something Americans need to work together protect.
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texasvet
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:32:10 PM

A perfect example of a situation when eminent domain should't automatically rule. The pipeline can very easily be buried deep enough to avoid the problems cited, and even if the landowner lost the suit, the pipeline company should do it anyway.
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menagerie1013
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:18:49 PM

Denbury should be able to say what crosses his land and be able to retain full access to his property.
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Scoutca
All-Star Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:17:42 PM

Sounds like a real mess, hope the courts help to settle it fairly for the landowner without causeing the companies to have to pay through the nose!!
That just gets passed on to the consumers!!
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Bud122CA
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:15:45 PM

Humm???
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Volvodude04
Champion Author Fresno

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:12:42 PM

Ok
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Suzzoom
Champion Author Nevada

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:11:27 PM

A lot of property owners sell or lease water and/or mineral rights. However, that should not harm the proterty owner in any way.
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LBarouf
Rookie Author Ottawa

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:10:19 PM

My tank of gas does not like sand.
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59glide
All-Star Author New Haven

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:02:03 PM

The Gov. will just take it.
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Vette1967
Champion Author Albany

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 8:01:44 PM

The landowners shouldn't have to take hit on property values in the name of corporate greed.
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sprocketsplines
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:59:00 PM

From a common sense perspective, the farmers should be able to retain full use of their property for farming and it appears that all the other companies were able to accommodate this requirement.
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Quick68
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:55:15 PM

A man should have the right to control what goes into or on his property. He pays taxes on it. Not in America any more because the government owns everything we pay tax on. This (America) is no longer a free country and it will get worse because of all the greed & corruption.
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BobD2009
Champion Author Long Island

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:54:32 PM

Time will tell Sept. 24.
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TIGERPAW46
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:54:10 PM

He may have a valid argument. Why can't They put the pipes deeper if the other oil pipes were buried deeper. If placing the pipes deeper would allow him to move equipment across them to access the rest of his property & lessen the risk of a leak running into the waterways across his land the court should concur.
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12766
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:50:08 PM

OK
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hogfan24
Champion Author Arkansas

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:50:05 PM

Ol
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pachukdog1
Champion Author Pensacola

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:49:31 PM

nice
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kitty1750
Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:46:17 PM

I agree PrinceLH......keep it in Canada and refine it here. Aside from that, the land owner always loses. Gov't can force them to sell whether they want to or not. I've seen it happen here enough times. We all think we own our land but do we really???
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LostToo
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:46:08 PM

WoW! 50 Pipelines? Thats crazy! But I bet he likes those things when payday rolls around.
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Ahking
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:42:26 PM

ok
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quasar502
Champion Author Lansing

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:41:47 PM

NObody wants one of these in their own back yard. Me included, but I have one about 2 miles away.
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boatfloyd
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:40:37 PM

Whatever.
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frostyWV
Champion Author West Virginia

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:38:51 PM

you can't please everybody.
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miiike572
All-Star Author Phoenix

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:33:44 PM

Nasty business
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Tigercat88
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:32:18 PM

It is his right to get More.
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sneadmd
Sophomore Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:29:09 PM

Interesting
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REVLAW
Champion Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:28:09 PM

The "Great Texas Land Grab". Sounds like a good name for a movie. Evil oil and all its pollution stealing land owner property and rights. I hope the judge in this case is not a democrat. But, we know how to take care of liberal judges in Texas.
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NedW
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:27:50 PM

I've had that same idea, Prince LH. Only, on this side of the border.
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PetroScopper
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:25:49 PM

You can't blame the man for standing up for his rights on his own property...
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2parrots
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:24:21 PM

Bury the pipeline & pay the landowner
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rd2000
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:24:07 PM

ok
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dlzastera
Champion Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Sep 14, 2012 7:22:27 PM

I'm feeling for them.
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