Win for Landowners in Big Bend Pipeline Brouhaha

Last week FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) said it will ask Energy Transfer Partners (the pipeline builder) for more proof that Texas, rather than the federal government, should regulate most of the project.

The BIG question for the pipeline:  Is this international pipeline, which leads to Mexico to partake in deregulation, is interstate (FERC regulation) or intrastate (Texas RRC regulation)?

Why does this matter? Throughout the country there have been legal trends denying the power of eimeint domain to pipelines that do not provide a public purpose to the state, that the pipe traverses. No eminent domain means negotiations with landowners, which is translated to delay.

Texas Tribune  Statesman    NewsOK