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Forum Post: Canadian company using eminent domain in US for keystone pipeline

Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 24, 2012, 10:43 a.m. EST by Faithntruth (997)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

The email for a petition I recieved:

The arrogance of TransCanada is shocking, even for an oil company.

The company is threatening to seize the property of American landowners and start construction of its Keystone XL pipeline — even though President Obama last month rejected the permit to build.

Tell TransCanada: Stop using eminent domain to confiscate private property for the rejected Keystone XL Pipeline. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

The pipeline path includes the 600 acre working farm that Julia Trigg Crawford's grandfather bought in 1948, on the Texas Oklahoma border, where the Red River meets Bois d'Arc Creek, which waters the farm.

Fearing for the safety of her farm and it's water source, Julia Trigg rejected TransCanada's offer to buy an easement on her land.

TransCanada announced it was seizing her land under eminent domain and would begin digging, but Julia won a temporary restraining order,1 at least until this Friday when the court will hear the case challenging Transcanada's status as a "common carrier" under Texas law.

It's bad enough that TransCanada expect landowners like Julia Trigg to accept permanent damage to their land and possible oil spills. But it's beyond arrogant for this foreign oil company to trample on private property rights and start construction on a project whose permit has just been denied!

Tell TransCanada: Stop using eminent domain to confiscate private property for the rejected Keystone XL Pipeline. Click here to automatically sign the petition.

Under eminent domain, the government can force landowners to accept monetary payment for the use of their land for certain public-good projects like highways and railroads.

Of course, TransCanada's massive fuse to the carbon bomb of the tar sands shouldn't qualify as one of these projects — it does great harm and only helps the profits of a foreign corporation. But regardless, the company doesn't even have the permit to build it, because the White House just rejected their application. But that hasn't stopped TransCanada.

According to The New York Times, the company has at least 34 eminent domain actions against landowners in Texas, and 22 in South Dakota.2 And their threats to landowners in Nebraska3 helped spark massive public opposition and a special legislative session that were key in the decision to consider a different route.

Many of these landowners are being sued by the company, and told that if they don't take the small monetary offering — sometimes less than $10,000 in exchange for the permanent damage to their land, and huge risk of spills — their land will be condemned and TransCanada will seize the easement.

Julia Trigg and others are fighting back and doing everything they can to oppose TransCanada's land grab.

Everyone from environmentalists to Tea Partiers in Texas are showing their support for Americans' property rights.4 As these court challenges unfold, we need to build pressure against TransCanada and spread the word about their reprehensible tactics.

Click below to automatically sign the petition:

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager CREDO Action from Working Assets

  1. "Keystone XL Pipeline: Texas Farmer Wins Temporary Restraining Order Against TransCanada," Huffington Post, February 14, 2012
  2. "Eminent Domain Fight Has a Canadian Twist," New York Times, October 17th, 2011
  3. "TransCanada Keystone XL Eminent Domain Threat Letter ," Dirty Oil Sands
  4. "Texans rally against Keystone XL oil pipeline easement," LA Times, February 17, 2012

33 Comments

33 Comments


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[-] 2 points by GirlFriday (17435) 12 years ago

This is insane.

[-] 1 points by timirninja (263) 12 years ago

Does somebody know that pipe line is ascribe as transport system? So Canadians building transport system on their territory. Sooner or later after couple decades or years this pipeline will be under construction in US

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Faithntruth If you have a petition link attach it.


1 points by gestopomillyy (803) 25 minutes ago

how can a foriegner use a an american governement tactic? how is that legal at all


gesto - They don't exercise it persay. They buy it from the local governments to enact/enforce.

This accomplishes a sway ( percieved ) in their favor. By clearing the right of way in advance of any decision. It also allows them to start major prep. in advance which can also be used to sway a decision by putting people to work which will end if they don't get permission. This is called forcing the issue through the back door.

[-] 1 points by richardkentgates (3269) 12 years ago

Can you imagine the look on their faces when they wake up one morning and all known energy types are outdated overnight? What a sight that will be. Start campaigning now to make it law they clean up on their way out.

[-] 1 points by gestopomillyy (1695) 12 years ago

how can a foriegner use a an american governement tactic? how is that legal at all

[-] 1 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

Because george bush laoaded the supreme court with pro business justices who voted that businesses can use eminent domain if they can claim economic benefit to the community. The keystone folks lied about the number of jobs...this was for more than getting our support, it was to ensure they could also get the land.

[-] 1 points by gestopomillyy (1695) 12 years ago

but they are not american, how can a foriegn power use our laws to do this.

[-] 1 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

Because they lie about the economic benefit and jobs created, and then the local government can cite economic benefit for emminet domain.

[-] 1 points by gestopomillyy (1695) 12 years ago

i thought eminent domain was only to be used by the federal government and only for the betterment of the nation.. like roads and bridges and national parks

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

They do the same thing with their mining interests.

You would be surprised at how many Canadian owned mines there are in the US.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

3/03/2012 - The natural gas industry wants to give you the old one-two punch: devastate our communities from natural gas drilling and send the liquefied natural gas (LNG) to other countries while profiting from their destruction. http://action.sierraclub.org/site/R?i=32J3gahYCTidej7heCLfWQ

Building up reserves for use here at home is one thing. ( perhaps even lowering our cost ). But to do this for pure profit is sick to say the least.

[-] 1 points by forourfutures (393) 12 years ago

Guess you don't know about GATT and NAFTA.

"But it's beyond arrogant for this foreign oil company to trample on private property rights and start construction on a project whose permit has just been denied!"

Multinational corporations are secretly using GATT and NAFTA to do things like the BP gulf leak, MTBE in California and get away with minimal or no costs. Now they are trying to extend it to using US laws.

Doesn't anyone wonder HOW a Canadian company can do this? WTF?

Appealing to a canadian corporation is a waste of time. Join this forum and get informed about Article V.

http://articlevconvention.org/

Article V is the only way to gain the authority needed to rescind GATT and NAFTA

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

I support an article V convention. Yes it does go to the heart of not upholding the constitution. But that is not the only action that can be taken it is an important one but not the only one. That is why we are here. Pushing forward all action items. Why wait for one, when while your waiting you can push multiple others that are also complimentary.

[-] 1 points by forourfutures (393) 12 years ago

Yes, but phrasing it like this. "Working on Article V can include all solutions for other problems (then describe them) we have with government and corporations." Is actually most accurate. Or, direct to Article V assures there is immediate, adequate authority to do anything we need done with the mechanisms of our society.

The nwo schills would prefer that all "action items" are equal, or Article V is "too controversial, con-con etc." The reason all the problems exist is because congress evaded its duty for 100 years by not convening Article V.

Just the logical preparation solves about 60% of the problems on its own given a little time. Check the logic of the proposals here, by far the most advanced strategy for Article V I've seen.

http://articlevconvention.org/showthread.php?33-Amendment-By-Layers-Of-Priority-Amendment-Package-Making-CONST.-Intent

You will find the issue of ending the abridgment of free speech applicable to solving many, many problems because we can educate ourselves into them, and their solutions by creating knowledge of our informed opinions, testing them.

The author at that forum also proposes a revision of the first amendment complete with a structure of government implimentation that is really fair to media corporations WHILE taking over their networks for few hours a week nationally during primetime. Dude's serious.

http://algoxy.com/poly/meaning_of_free_speech.html

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Yes go in with a fully loaded arsenal but also prepare the ground prior to arrival.

[-] 1 points by forourfutures (393) 12 years ago

That notion of the citizens requiring delegates to formally agree to propose and ratify amendments that end the abridgment of free speech, reverse citizens united and create campaign reform with securing election systems is going to solve 60% of the existing propblems on its own. Literally, it is mostly just returning the nation in a basic sense to constitutional operation. Get those concepts out far and wide. I am. The rest of what I'm reading and hearing is devoid of comprehensiveness.

Completely based in law, history and meeting human needs.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

We have the correct system in place. We just need to get the people to understand and then own it. People have been chased away from the process for decades. That is why we are here now.

[-] 1 points by forourfutures (393) 12 years ago

Read about that proposed revision of the 1st Amendment. It undoes the abridging of free speech. We get the usenet back if you read into it what it is fully saying. People will be able to understand if they can meaningfully discuss.

This .com environment sucks. Censorship and false information abound. We are all spread out. The usenet was one global message board:)

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

Well we at least are able to reach out. Just think if the internet was run like corporate News.

That's just too depressing to consider.

[-] 1 points by forourfutures (393) 12 years ago

Reaching out to manipulated people that think they know what's happening because they've been surfing the web for 6 years is more like "throwing out" your time. I've been here off and on for months and cannot say I've made one good contact that was functional.

Trying, but people NEED something like "corporate news" authority, that's why they believe schills like A. Jones, mother jones, truthout, firedoglake, the grist etc. the "dumbing down" made it so the average group of citizens has no one that is willing to trust what they know in evaluation to help the group to deceide what they do, or do not know.

[-] 1 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

Does fracking for profit make them gassy prostitutes?

Couldnt resist...sorry! We really need to develop viable alternatives. I have an idea that needs investigating and I keep trying to find some folks to join in for the experiments. I ran the first couple myself and it proves it is worth continuing to investigate. I created .8 vdc in a cup of tap water with a natural substance added. Clean, efficient, nearly free. But I have a list of questions that need to be answered....

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

LOL. I think in this case a gassy pimp. ( but I get your drift )

I'm not a research scientist but I do believe in the value of experimentation. So I wish you good fortune with that.

You might be able to glean some good information from these people and their work however:

Support true green energy independence. Shout it out to the World, Lobby Government.

Combine the Hopewell project: http://www.hopewellproject.org/

WITH:

I'll give ya a bump and raise you an E CAT and an LFTR.

http://ecat.com/

Sorry, I have miss quoted this as LFNR. the T stands for thorium. It's a "clean fission" option.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/all/1 - This was in reference to clean fusion generators. Thanks again shooz.

That's as close to a full circle support system for driving energy independence as I have ever seen.

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[-] 0 points by FreeDiscussion5 (12) 12 years ago

Really, I'm glad some country has the BALLS to do it. obama can not BAN the pipeline. Each state has the right to regulate electrical powerlines or pipelines running through their state. Your electric company can run wires down your street and other utilities can do the same.

[-] 2 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

The EPA can shut a project down if there is risk to the water supply for the public. Pipelines leak. You can drink sludge, I prefer water.

[-] -1 points by FreeDiscussion5 (12) 12 years ago

There are OVER 60,000 MILESSSSSSS of pipelines running through America,,,, TODAY. You need to PARK your car and TURN off you computer if you dont want gasoline or power for generators. GROW UP.

[-] 1 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

Got two things to say to you: one, you should comsider finding a forum where people might get something from reading your posts, because you are wasting your time posting here.

Two, you can stop responding to my posts because I won't waste my time reading them or responding to you anymore.

Goodbye

[-] 1 points by FreeDiscussion5 (12) 12 years ago

Oh,,,, but you DID.And that speaks volumes about my power of you.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

This is called forcing the issue through the back door.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago

This accomplishes a sway ( percieved ) in their favor. By clearing the right of way in advance of any decision. It also allows them to start major prep. in advance which can also be used to sway a decision by putting people to work which will end if they don't get permission. This is called forcing the issue through the back door.

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[-] 0 points by BlackSun (275) from Agua León, BC 12 years ago

I call BS. Obama put the kibosh on the pipeline. How can they build it?

[-] 1 points by Faithntruth (997) 12 years ago

The letter discusses what is happening, not what might happen. Clearly, the company is confident the republicans will bypass obama.

[-] 0 points by BlackSun (275) from Agua León, BC 12 years ago

I see. You are probably right.

[-] -1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 12 years ago