Federal judge paves the way for Rover Pipeline
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Federal Judge Algenon L. Marbley of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio granted a preliminary injunction preventing certain landowners from holding up construction crews by stopping them from entering their property, paving the way for Energy Transfer Partners’ Rover Pipeline Project.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, the ruling applies to 232 landowners, but doesn’t give the company permission to enter the property of 21 others who have not been properly served with the complaint.
The judge gave Rover until yesterday to have a process server hand nice on the owners, who have not been properly served. These owners will have the opportunity to appear in court on March 14 if they have any issues with the compensation they receive.
The Rover Pipeline must have trees cleared by March 31 to meet their deadline set by federal regulators. Any later and tree removal would disturb federally protected Indiana brown bats that begin roosting in trees in April.
Learn more: The Columbus Dispatch > Federal judge gives Rover OK to clear trees for pipeline
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.