The 550-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline that is projected to run
through the heart of Central Virginia has generated much political
controversy and is now the subject of a new federal
lawsuit.
Although Governor McAuliffe has supported the pipeline, environmental groups
and some landowners have been highly critical of the project. Environmental
groups have started petitions opposing the pipeline and landowners
have raised issues regarding the path of the pipeline and the
ability of gas companies to enter and condemn private land for the
pipeline.
A recent lawsuit file in the Charlottesville Division of the
Western District of Virginia seeks to declare unconstitutional a
Virginia statute that allows gas companies the right to enter
private property to survey the proposed path for the
pipeline. The lawsuit challenges the statute as authorizing
an unlawful taking for private purposes and a taking without just
compensation in violation of both the United States Constitution
and the newly strengthen provisions of the Virginia
Constitution. As reported by the newspaper, Dominion says
that it will not survey anyone's land without permission from
the landowner or a court order affirming Dominion's right to
survey.
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