TransCanada tells Nebraska landowners to sign or face condemnation

LINCOLN, Neb. - TransCanada has sent letters to Nebraska landowners along the proposed route of the Keystone XL petroleum pipeline urging them to sign easements in the next 30 days or face land condemnation proceedings.
A spokesman for TransCanada acknowledged on Aug. 13 that the company has sent letters to Nebraska landowners along the proposed route of the Keystone XL petroleum pipeline urging them to sign easements in the next 30 days or face land condemnation proceedings.
Jeff Rauh said the letters went out at a time when the pipeline builder is trying to position itself to proceed quickly with the $7 billion construction phase as soon as the federal permitting process is complete.
"It's important to be able to start to get those land rights," Rauh said, "so that we're able to move forward in a timely manner once project approval is given."
U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns raised concerns about TransCanada's tactics last week.
"Landowners tell me that TransCanada has set arbitrary deadlines for acceptance of payment offers," Johanns said in a prepared statement, "and threatened the use of eminent domain without so much as an approved permit to move forward with the project."
He called on TransCanada to "immediately lift any deadlines imposed on Nebraska landowners and to negotiate in good faith."