Posted on 03/12/2016 3:00:55 PM PST by Lorianne
A once-majestic stand of maple trees that the Holleran family of Susquehanna County has been working to produce maple syrup since the 1950s. A big pipeline firm, the Williams Companies, successfully used the right of eminent domain to win the right to clear the Hollerans' stand of trees to make way for a new pipeline intended to carry to natural gas fracked from the Marcellus Shale to large urban markets.
According to StateImpact PA, at least three U.S. Marshals armed with semi-automatic weapons and pistols and wearing bulletproof vests were there to protect the pipeline workers from about 20 peaceful protesters carrying signs that read “No Eminent Domain for Corporate Gain” and “Sap Lines Not Pipelines.”
It was just one more way that the fracking boom has ripped Pennsylvania – and Pennsylvanians – apart since its gold-rush mentality swept through big chunks of the northern and western corners of the commonwealth about a decade ago.
It was right around the moment that the first chainsaw was cutting into maple bark when a newsflash swept through the business world and beyond: Aubrey McClendon -- the ostentatious Oklahoma billionaire who was also essentially the godfather of our Pennsylvania fracking explosion, enmeshed in controversy until his final hours – had died under murky circumstances.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
Trees Cut as Maple Syrup Farmers Lose Eminent Domain Battle Over Constitution Pipeline
http://windsorcommunityrights.org/trees-cut-as-maple-syrup-farmers-lose-eminent-domain-battle-over-constitution-pipeline/
plenty of Sap in Vermont
Were they adequately compensated for their trees??
He got what he deserved.
Probably so, but facts are left out of stories when a point is to be made.
I like the British media, covering American issues. At least they give both sides.
This was in Windsor NY and it has only been in operation for 6 months as a treehugger protest. This was from law enforcement involved. Scam.
Why couldn’t he be just as happy with a few million less? The money and power must have been like heroin-needing a bigger fix.
“Why couldn’t he be just as happy with a few million less? The money and power must have been like heroin-needing a bigger fix.”
Why couldn’t they be just as happy with a few fewer maple trees? The syrup and pancakes must have been like heroin-needing a bigger fix.
The rights of way are not wide, and it is all underground. Susquehanna County PA is the new Saudi Arabia, lotsa gas and the companies have been great. I own property in the midst, I know. Love it!
PA is much better off because of fracking. Across the border in NY they don’t do it and are much poorer. McClendon wasn’t perfect, but he did get fracking up and rolling and we are all paying lower gas prices because of it.
Sadly his story ends in tragedy..RIP.
We just love eminent domain, unless we don’t.
Fracking takes up very little land. Plant some more trees! and property owners do get paid.
Should we have energy, light, heat, or let some crank in a hovel hold us hostage.
But as long as you have it all figured out...
Yeah, because we had none of those things before.
So, pro eminent domain?
For private companies even?
Property rights should rule. Anything else is criminal, theft
Sorry, I've seen it first-hand: reasonable people negotiate and make a little money from a pipeline easement, paranoid nutjobs with trash-filled eyesores shooting at surveyors, thinking they'll get "millions."
Again, civilization is an "either/or" choice.
Yes. No pipeline could ever be built without eminent domain laws. People are compensated via fair market value. Or we could be a 3rd World country
Besides government is heavily involved to assure the project is significantly in the public interest.
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