If you are a Pennsylvania landowner approached by a pipeline company, you may be told that signing a pipeline easement is routine—or even unavoidable. It is neither. Pipeline easements are binding legal agreements that permanently affect your property rights, land value, and future use of your land. Once signed, these agreements can last indefinitely and… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Blog
Pennsylvania Pipeline Easements: What Landowners Must Know Before Signing in 2026
By Douglas A. Clark, Esquire Pennsylvania Pipeline Attorney – Representing Landowners Only Introduction: Why Pipeline Easements Demand Careful Legal Review Pipeline companies across Pennsylvania continue expanding infrastructure for natural gas, liquids, and related energy transportation. With that expansion comes an increasing number of pipeline easement offers to landowners—often presented as routine agreements. They are not…. Read more »
Understanding FERC’s Pipeline Certificate Process: What Every Pennsylvania Landowner Must Know
Introduction: When a Pipeline Company Comes Knocking For many Pennsylvania landowners, the first contact with a natural gas pipeline company comes as a surprise. A letter arrives in the mail, a land agent appears at the door, or survey stakes suddenly show up along a property line. Often the landowner has no idea that a… Read more »
Negotiating Gathering, Trunk and/or Transportation Pipeline Agreements – No Threat of Eminent Domain and Condemnation
Unlike the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) interstate pipeline projects addressed in my last Blog, “Gathering”, “Trunk”, and “Transportation” Pipeline Agreements do not involve the threat of eminent domain and condemnation. It is critical that landowners understand that the vast majority of Pipeline Agreements presented to Pennsylvania landowners have no potential for eminent domain and condemnation. In fact, only a very small fraction of Pipeline Agreements carry the possibility of eminent domain and a “taking” by way of condemnation.
FERC Interstate Pipelines – Negotiating Pipeline Right-of-Way Agreements with the Threat of Eminent Domain and Condemnation
Pennsylvania’s tremendous production of shale gas has resulted in an overabundant supply with the pressing need to move the natural gas to other regions of the country. Pennsylvania’s natural gas market is saturated and gas companies are pressing hard to transport gas to distant markets at higher prices. As a result of the pressing need…
News Flash: Giving All Landowners Bad Pipeline Agreements is Not “Fairness”
The Pipeline Company Landman Says the Company Will Not Offer More Money Because They Want to Be “Fair” to Other Landowners Who have Already Signed Pipeline Agreements.
There are many tactics that pipeline companies use to try to persuade landowners to sign company friendly Pipeline Agreements for low compensation. Although many of these techniques cause me to pull my hair out, one particular technique drives me especially batty.
10 Common Landowner Mistakes in Negotiating Pipeline Right-of-Way Agreements
10 Common Landowner Mistakes in Negotiating Pipeline Right-of-Way Agreements 1. Mistakenly Believing You do not Have the Right or Power to Say “No” to a Proposed Pipeline Right-of-Way Easement Agreement. Critical: Landowners must understand their right to decline a requested Pipeline Agreement and their ability to negotiate for substantial compensation, crucial property protection terms, and… Read more »
