Event
Special Briefing Highlights Issues Concerning Pipeline Construction Projects
Apr 14, 2025 | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Date/Time
Date(s) - April 14, 2025
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location
Categories
Licking County Farm Bureau members are invited to attend a special pipeline construction issues briefing. The program will be held at the St. Albans Township Meeting Room Monday, April 14, 2025 at 7 p.m.
The program will be facilitated by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Director for Energy, Utility and Local Government Issues, Dale Arnold.
“Farmers and rural residents in western parts of the county have been approached by several pipeline development companies. These include new interstate and intrastate natural gas transportation lines to support new power generation projects being considered in the area. Public utilities are upgrading local gas distribution networks throughout several neighborhoods, too,” Arnold said.
Pipeline development is becoming a major issue impacting consumers, landowners and local governments. During the briefing, Arnold will discuss developments involving interstate, intrastate and local collection pipelines, energy market trends, pipeline construction and remediation standards, as well as regulatory agencies governing different types of pipeline development. Issues concerning eminent domain and farmland preservation will be explored, as well as what landowners should consider in negotiating effective easement agreements.
“Representatives from pipeline and energy development companies are contacting residents in the region, and many folks have a number of questions and concerns,” said Kayla Jones, senior organization director of Licking County Farm Bureau. “We understand that these representatives are requesting to work with landowners to conduct preliminary surveys and environmental evaluations across farm ground. The Licking County Farm Bureau recommends that landowners contacted by pipeline and energy development companies schedule a time for the company to survey the property when the landowner can accompany them in the process.”
The initial survey is an important time where the landowner can meet additional company representatives, write down names and contact information, discuss the farm’s specific soil and water conservation requirements and note all farm resources and infrastructure that could be impacted during a possible construction project.
If asked to sign complex agreements and associated paperwork, landowners have the right to have their legal counsel examine all materials.
“Take your time – many projects are still working through their development process,” Arnold said. “”Farmers are realizing that many aspects of a pipeline easement agreement are not boilerplate, but highly negotiable.”
This briefing is one of several the Licking County Farm Bureau Public Policy Action Team sponsors on energy development issues impacting the area. The organization will be working to sponsor additional briefings where residents can meet project developers as well as representatives of regulatory agencies governing pipeline development to examine issues and share concerns.
Arnold has been involved in energy and utility related issues since 1995. He represents farm and rural residential energy consumers on a variety of government working groups and public utility advisory boards concerning energy development. He has extensive experience working with county Farm Bureaus and local residents, helping communities evaluate construction projects concerning electric transmission line and pipeline infrastructure.
The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization, encompassing 86 county Farm Bureau organizations and over 65,000 member families statewide. Licking County Farm Bureau leaders are active on state and local action teams working on legislation, regulations and issues that impact agriculture and its relationship with rural, suburban and urban communities. Locally, over 1,050 member families belong to the Licking County Farm Bureau.
