Posted on 04/13/2015 6:55:20 PM PDT by Rusty0604
ALPINE — In the wide-open Big Bend, where private property rights are sacrosanct and a “no trespassing” sign means just that, unwelcome interlopers, from nosy environmentalists to federal employees, always have been quickly sent packing.
Thus, the news that a couple of billionaire businessmen intend to run a large natural gas pipeline through 143 miles of mostly private ranch land to the Mexican border has folks here in shock.
“We are all under the impression that private property is private property. You go to talking about condemning something by eminent domain, you’ll get shot in this part of the country,” said Mary Luedeke, a rancher and local justice of the peace.
For starters, the whole legal concept of eminent domain, in which private citizens are forced to surrender their property for a project that serves the public good, does not translate well in the Big Bend, particularly when it involves businessmen working for Mexico.
“Mexico can turn blue as far as I’m concerned if they think they can condemn my land. ...” Luedeke said.
Despite the bleak legal prognosis, some landowners are vowing to fight to the bitter end, among them Beard, the former county judge.
She said she finally got enough specific information last week to pinpoint where Trans-Pecos Pipeline Ltd. wants to cross her land.
“They want to run it right through our ranch headquarters, five homes, barns, shipping pens, buried electrical lines, lots of old family history,” she said.
“And behind the house is Leoncita Springs, first known to history in 1684. Free-flowing springs, walnut trees, a beautiful desert oasis,” she added.
Beard, who, like her husband is a lawyer, said a line in the sand has been drawn.
“This is one of those ‘over my dead body’ things. We’re dead serious about opposing this,” she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at mrt.com ...
Well ... I don’t know ... you can’t have it both ways. How do you “drill baby drill”, run pipelines all over the country and become more energy independent in this country ... and NOT run across people’s land?! ... :-) ...
You don’t have to dig very far to find that what is defined as public good has a lot of private money behind it. The “public” that it serves most is generally not very large and not at all public.
I agree to an extent, but I can understand if the landowner is upset if they want to condemn the spot where there are historic buildings.
The proper uses for such easements are transportation routes (like railroads) and utility lines. Those don’t “condemn” a property. Some landowners are happy to get the compensation for such easements. Others are NIMBYs, pushing for regulations against their own neighbors while opposing energy exploration and transportation lines.
One of the poorest uses for eminent domain is the real condemnation and destruction of older, smaller houses to make way for McMansions.
The political/regulator class has long gotten out of hand and has too much influence through its government-derived incomes.
This Mexican pipeline is fine but Keystone, oh Hell no! \s
Life. Liberty. Property.
God Bless Texas.
The man was perhaps of the same caliber as Donald Trump.
I wish I could tell you his name. You'd be pleased. He was brilliant and such a very kind man. His shelf was lined with seals of Corporations he owned.
These folks need a reasonable alternative to stop it.
Thanks for posting. I was unaware there are no pipelines, road or power lines in West Texas.
This is Big Bend Country. I lived there many moons ago. It is a beautiful place with great people. Scientists used to come there trying to figure out the Marfa lights, and everyone would laugh because anyone with good sense would know it was Indian spirits camping.
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