National Geographic. Eminent Domain. Pipelines. 4 Key Points about the opposition revealed.
National Geographic’s website has a feature piece entitled, Palmetto Pipeline: An Eminent Problem. Here’s what you need to know:
- Southerners aren’t opposing pipelines for environmental reasons, but for private property reasons.
- What didn’t sit well with landowners is that the pipeline can take an easement via eminent domain, leaving the property owner to pay taxes on land that it can’t use because the pipeline is on it.
- In 2016, government officials denied eminent domain because there was not enough public benefit.
- Much of the land was near the Savannah River, and may property owners are set on keeping the integrity of the waterway.
National Geographic | Palmetto Pipeline: An Eminent Problem