Gas Drilling companies trying to use Eminent Domain for pipeline

[Mitchell Troutman]

I was afraid this was going to happen... figured that the industry
would go after something big in exchange for the severance tax that
was just (sorta) passed. The are trying to use EMINENT DOMAIN to legal
take people's land and build the pipeline.
-Mitch


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: born female <simply...@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 11:23 AM
Subject: RE : SCGF PUC Eminent Domain Pipeline Hearing -- reflections
and testimony
To: Leslie Avakian <les...@techplacers.com>
Cc: SusquehannaCoGasForum <susquehann...@googlegroups.com>


Thank you for attaching your excellent testimony Leslie. And thank you
for your kind and encouraging words.

Personally I appreciate it, before this hearing I was really at a low
ebb. But the show of public concern for this issue and the quality of
testimony was reviving.

I am planning to place any testimony that I can get on the
NepaGasAction.org website if possible so it can be read widely.

I share your sense of hope and renewed resolve after the hearings.
Hundreds of citizens showed up and spoke their mind against the
granting of public utility status to the pipeline companies. The
overwhelming majority, said resoundingly, NO !

I sat through the entirety of both hearings. Out of all the persons
who testified, only two approved of the permit application out of 49
testimonies for the day and that I took notes for all of them, to the
best of my ability. There were hundreds of folks who attended.

And yes, many of us have sat through less encouraging hearings.
In the past, I have heard incredibly well put together testimony at
all public hearings. I am always inspired by the intelligence, caring
and passion of those who speak out.

HOWEVER, inspiration is not enough to get the job done, the idea is to
make our work count.

If all our well-intentioned, heartfelt testimony is heard and then
filed away in archives and nothing else comes of it, we have been
tricked again.

This funnels all of our considerable energy and DRAINS it all away.
The industry likes this. I watched them sit through the testimony with
smug, confident faces yesterday,

I have a question, what is the continuing process with the Public
Utility Commission hearings? What is the next step? How does the PUC
reach a decision in this landmark case? What is our next step?

It was pointed out to me at the hearings yesterday that the important
thing is inform the general public of this issue, most of whom I
believe would want to deny the certificate of public convenience to
the pipeline companies. Not many will support eminent domain for
pipeline right of way.

How do we get the message out to the media?
Let's get to work on this aspect.
I am sure that we have the ability to do this if we combine our
efforts and networking ability.

AND, thank you ALL, for what you do.

--- On Thu, 7/8/10, Leslie A. <les...@techplacers.com> wrote:


From: Leslie A. <les...@techplacers.com>
Subject: SCGF Pipeline Hearing -- reflections and testimony
To: "SusquehannaCoGasForum"
<susquehann...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Thursday, July 8, 2010, 9:51 AM


I was so impressed with the presentations last night at the
hearing. So many people put their time and personal energy into
preparing and speaking, and into supporting those who did. Each
presentation added another angle and the audience was actively
engaged. Regardless of the next steps the PUC takes (and I was
encouraged by the atmosphere) our position is clear and legally
strong.


The experience was, for me, cathartic and has given me even more
energy/resolve to address these very important injustices (and there
are many!).


I realized later that many of you started this fight so much
earlier and probably sat (as I do now in our area) in almost empty
rooms complaining/explaining to deaf (or mislead) ears. Thank you for
your earlier efforts to bring it all this far. Things are changing.


A couple of people asked for a copy of the testimony I gave -- it
is attached.



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