Supreme Court hears PennEast Pipeline’s arguments to seize land in New Jersey
Friday, April 30, 2021
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in an appeal by Penn East Pipeline Company LLC, on Wednesday, vying to seize land owned by New Jersey to build a $1 billion natural gas pipeline, according to Reuters.
Opposing the joint venture backed by a group of energy companies, the state argues its rights would be trampled.
The focus of the issue in the case is a 1938 U.S. law called the Natural Gas Act that lets private energy companies seize “necessary” parcels of land for a project if they have obtained a certificate from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The law effectively gives private companies the power of eminent domain.
A ruling in favor of New Jersey would weaken the Natural Gas Act. And while some justices appeared sympathetic to the state’s legal arguments, they also seemed cautious about issuing a ruling that would overturn the longstanding understanding of the law and potentially imperil the PennEast project and others like it.
Learn more: Reuters > U.S. Supreme Court tackles pipeline company’s bid to seize New Jersey land
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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.