WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will hold a hearing to examine the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) failure to protect the rights of landowners whose properties are affected by natural gas projects, and to follow up on the investigation and video report the Subcommittee released earlier this year.
FERC is the primary federal permitting agency for the construction and operation of all major interstate natural gas pipelines. Landowners face obstacles from FERC at every stage of the natural gas pipeline process: FERC rubberstamps natural gas projects without fair consideration to landowners, favors pipeline companies, and provides insufficient options for landowners to seek recourse against pipeline companies.
On February 19, 2020, the Subcommittee launched an investigation into the use of eminent domain in the construction of natural gas pipelines. FERC routinely grants pipeline companies “certificates of public convenience and necessity,” allowing them to take possession of private land under the right of eminent domain.
On April, 28, 2020, the Subcommittee released preliminary findings of the investigation revealing that the natural gas pipeline approval process used by FERC unjustly trampled on the rights of private landowners.
On June 11, 2020, following the Subcommittee’s investigation, FERC announced it would no longer authorize construction activities for natural gas pipelines until the agency acts on the merits of challenges from private landowners and other stakeholders.
On November 20, 2020, the Subcommittee expanded its investigation by requesting information about procedures used to resolve conflicts between landowners and energy companies.
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WHAT:
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Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee Hearing: “Pipelines Over People: How FERC Tramples Landowner Rights in Natural Gas Projects”
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WHEN: |
Dec. 9, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. EST
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WHO:
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David L. Morenoff Acting General Counsel Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Terry Turpin Director, Office of Energy Projects Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
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WATCH: |
A livestream will be available on YouTube and the Committee on Oversight and Reform website. |
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