WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) seeking documents about its procedures for resolving conflicts between landowners and natural gas pipeline construction companies. 

“Specifically, the Subcommittee requests that FERC provide information on the following topics:  certificate extensions, restoration delays, dispute resolution, and disposition of property for cancelled projects,” Chairman Raskin wrote.

On February 19, 2020, the Subcommittee launched an investigation into the use of eminent domain in the construction of natural gas pipelines.  FERC routinely granted 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.

The Subcommittee requests that FERC produce documents by December 4, 2020.

Click here to read today’s letter.

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