ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - A company behind a proposed natural gas pipeline that could run through parts of Michigan has sued several landowners to gain access to their property for surveys.
John DeVries, a lawyer for Rover Pipeline LLC, told The Ann Arbor News (https://bit.ly/1GD0Jya ) that 17 lawsuits have been filed in Washtenaw, Lenawee and Livingston counties. Eleven of the lawsuits were filed in Washtenaw County Trial Court.
ET Rover said the lawsuits are a reluctant action taken by the company so crews can conduct civil and environmental surveys. The filings cite Michigan law allowing surveyors and those supervised by surveyors to enter onto property for the purpose of a survey.
“This is critical data we need in order to determine the best location for the proposed pipeline with the least impact on the surrounding area,” said ET Rover spokeswoman Vicki Granado. “We are pleased that the majority of landowners have been responsive to our request for survey permission and that we had to take this action with a very small group.”
DeVries estimated a total of about 350 landowners had been contacted.
The pipeline’s route is planned through Lenawee, Washtenaw and Livingston counties and would connect with other pipelines. It had initially been proposed to go through some other Michigan counties, but the route was modified following resistance to the project from some residents.
Leaders of the Post 46 Hunting and Fishing Club in Pinckney recently met with pipeline company representatives and have agreed to allow them on their land, said board member Brad Coy. The club, however, still isn’t pleased with the overall project or how close the route would be to its clubhouse.
“I would think that just about everyone would deny them,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whose property it is, I’m sure they don’t want it disturbed.”
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Information from: The Ann Arbor News, https://www.mlive.com/ann-arbor
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