Pipeline building hurdles cleared

ATLANTA – A Senate panel cleared the way Wednesday to give petroleum pipeline companies more power to seize land along existing pipelines.

If the bill is approved, pipeline companies would no longer have to meet a series of hurdles imposed in 1995 if the construction is within 75 feet of current lines.

Supporters of the measure say the extra hurdles are time-consuming and unnecessary, as all projects would still have to be cleared by state environmental officials and must abide by stricter eminent domain standards approved last year.

Critics say the pipeline companies are fostering a false energy crisis as a pretext to grab more power to take land, and warn that the measure could eventually be expanded to give other utilities similar powers.

AP